Teachers and the Practice of Leadership

Driven by the pursuit of social justice and quality in education, this inspirational book offers an alternative vision of leadership in education. It argues that teachers, regardless of status or position, should be empowered to exercise leadership in the pursuit of educational change and improvement. Drawing from over three decades of practical experience and research in initiating and supporting non-positional teacher leadership in more than twenty countries, the authors make a persuasive case for the value of empowering teachers as agents of change. Chapters demonstrate the practical benefits that come from empowerment such as the development of innovative practice in classrooms and schools, the transformation of professional cultures in schools, an enhanced sense of agency and self-efficacy for teachers, and vibrant knowledge building in educational systems. As well as implications for policy and practice, the book includes a guide to practical strategies for improvements in educational provision and the quality of learning in schools. Downloadable guidance material and workshop tools, applicable to a wide variety of international contexts, are available online, free of charge. Essential reading for teachers, school leaders and policymakers with responsibility for educational leadership, the book will also be of use for scholars and students of educational reform, as well as administrators working in school improvement and educational policy. This book has been made available as open access under a CC-BY-NC-ND license; please note that the support materials are available under a separate CC-BY-NC-SA license.