Conversations about the ways in which teacher leadership can be leveraged to improve teaching and learning are common now, but that wasn’t always the case. For decades educators and noneducators would give a head tilt (you know the one—like when a dog hears a strange noise) when you mentioned the words teacher and leader in the same phrase. And even then, the title of leader was conferred only on department chairs or union representatives.

But times have changed, and teacher leadership has become part of mainstream conversations in education.

In the 15 years since CTQ launched the Teacher Leader Network (TLN), thousands of teachers have honed their leadership skills and chosen to lead without leaving the classroom. Others have moved beyond the classroom and carried their teacher leadership experiences and expertise into new roles where they are impacting the larger education system.

This roundtable is focused on those who chose to lead, then left the classroom and how their practices and leadership have grown from the classroom out.

At CTQ we wondered what some of those pioneer teacher leaders are up to and how they have carried their teacher leadership journeys forward into their new roles. We asked them to reflect on the following questions, then blog about what they are called to share.

  • What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were a teacher leader?
  • How have you integrated what you learned as a teacher leader into your current role?
  • In what ways have you incorporated collective leadership into your current role?
  • How might schools move toward a more collectively led model?
  • Given what you now know, what advice do you have for current teacher leaders?

We are looking forward to reading what these educators have been up to, and we would love to hear from you too!

We invite you to join the conversation and share your own story, your teaching, the actions you are taking, and your reflections on what Teachers leading/leading teachers means for educators to inform this roundtable discussion. Invite your colleagues to join on social media with #CTQCollab and be sure to follow CTQ on Facebook and Twitter for new blog postings.

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