Know Your Stuff (And Other Thoughts On Teacher Leadership) [Edutopia]
Bayard Rustin
I wrote an epic post on Edutopia about transforming teacher leadership, especially for those just starting out. Here’s something you ought to know:
1. Know Your Stuff
My advice to any teacher leader, new or old: know what you’re talking about. Teachers respect leaders who have expertise and demonstrate confidence in that expertise. Having classroom experience goes a long way, but if our message doesn’t sound classroom-based or substantive, it won’t ring true to your colleagues. For instance, if you’re asked a question about the Common Core State Standards, you should know about the shifts in English, the practices in math or the integrations in science, even if you disagree with the standards. In other words, know your stuff. Nothing inspires confidence like reading up on important policy and having a good sense of how that applies to the classroom.
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