Patricia H. Phelps

Helping Teachers Become Leaders

For school improvement, more teachers need to function as leaders. Understanding the various dimensions of teacher leadership is requisite knowledge for encouraging the development of more teachers as leaders. Teacher leaders can fulfill multiple roles as they encounter obstacles in schools. The author addresses the challenge of supporting teachers in leadership roles, presents a model, and recommends ways for administrators and teacher educators to shape teacher leaders.

The Three Rs of Professionalism.

Consider the following brief descriptions of teachers. Jim comes unprepared to a parent conference. Alicia brags about her ability to “stump” students with test items. Catherine marks her college graduation by celebrating the termination of reading professional journals. Marcus regularly leaves his school campus to run errands during his “prep” period. In the teacher’s lounge, Melissa often shares detailed information about specific students that others do not need to know. What do these teachers have in common? Most would characterize their behaviors as “unprofessional”—a label that is certainly not desired in education or in any field. To be considered professional, teachers must understand better the meaning and indicators of professionalism. In my 20 years of experience as a teacher educator, I have found developing professionalism to be the most challenging aspect of preparing new teachers. When problems exist in the area of professionalism, teacher candidates often do not recognize them. A closer look at the meaning and manifestations of professionalism may The Three Rs of PROFESSIONALISM

Encouraging Thoughtful Teaching: Another View of the Pre-Observation Conference

The pre-observation conference should allow the teacher to think criti cally about the proposed lesson. The conference structure proposed here is designed to ensure that such reflec tion occurs.

RX for Instructional Supervision: Look To the Physician

Principals may look to successful physicians as examples of effec tive supervisors. Several parallels can be drawn between the two professions.