Inside the Team: Questions and Answers Facing Teacher Leaders is a book for K-12 teachers and leaders who face dilemmas leading teams of peers. With little formal training, few venues for professional conversation, and more responsibilities to lead groups of peers, teacher leaders are seeking answers and direction that will help them build strong professional teams to support student learning. Inside the Team acknowledges a number of changes that are having a profound impact on schools today. Technology, copious information accessible via the Internet, a focus on standards and test scores, fewer teachers with more students, and the never ending cycle of change all impact teaching and learning. Teacher leaders and teams have been asked to step up and shoulder more of the responsibilities to make schools work. However, good intentions aren t enough. Using Q/A scenarios and building context for leadership in practice, the authors provide answers, useful, practical tools, resources, models and conversation starters that move teams forward."

Inside the Team: Questions and Answers Facing Teacher Leaders is a book for K-12 teachers and leaders who face dilemmas leading teams of peers. With little formal training, few venues for professional conversation, and more responsibilities to lead groups of peers, teacher leaders are seeking answers and direction that will help them build strong professional teams to support student learning. Inside the Team acknowledges a number of changes that are having a profound impact on schools today. Technology, copious information accessible via the Internet, a focus on standards and test scores, fewer teachers with more students, and the never ending cycle of change all impact teaching and learning. Teacher leaders and teams have been asked to step up and shoulder more of the responsibilities to make schools work. However, good intentions aren t enough. Using Q/A scenarios and building context for leadership in practice, the authors provide answers, useful, practical tools, resources, models and conversation starters that move teams forward."

There's a lot more to being a teacher leader than any job description can capture. When action must be taken, new goals must be set, and new standards must be met, the administration depends on teacher leaders to tackle dozens of other duties as assigned-and do whatever it takes to help their peers function as a team, improve as educators, and further student learning. In this book, you'll find varied and engaging guidance for mastering both the concrete and intangible aspects of the essential teacher leader role, including: Thriving in a modern, shared leadership environment. Building positive team culture focused on student learning and achievement. Strengthening professional practice. Gauging your team's progress. Authors and veteran educators Jan Burgess and Donna Bates highlight key research findings, provide prompts for reflection, address the common dilemmas of teacher leaders, and give real-world answers to the most-pressing leadership challenges. Along with lists of easily accessible resources to extend your professional learning, you'll find a collection of practical, downloadable tools, surveys, templates, and checklists to help you translate the book's advice into action. Whether you are thinking about becoming a teacher leader, are new to the teacher leadership role, or are a veteran teacher leader committed to the professional growth of your peers and yourself, you'll find something in Other Duties as Assigned to challenge you, make you think, validate your work, enhance your leadership skills, and move your team (and students) forward.