Teacher Leadership Circle
Building a Foundation for Lifelong Learning
The Teacher Leadership Circle (TLC) is CEQUE's strategic initiative designed to ensure the lasting impact of the Teacher Innovator Program (TIP) long after our direct three-year engagement in a district concludes. We envision a vibrant ecosystem of continuous professional growth, driven by and for teachers themselves. TLC is conceptualised as a pathway to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning through the establishment and nurturing of Teacher Communities of Practice. To spearhead this movement, CEQUE identifies and empowers dedicated teacher leaders from our alumni network and current TIP participants within each district. These leaders take ownership of initiating and facilitating collaborative learning circles, fostering a sustainable model for teacher development.
The Need for Teacher Leadership - Addressing the Gap
Sustaining Progress and Fostering Collective Growth
In districts where the Teacher Innovator Program has taken root, educators have embraced innovative teaching methodologies and continue to benefit from CEQUE's support during the active TIP phase. However, to truly embed these positive changes and ensure their longevity, it's crucial to empower teacher leaders to champion their own ongoing learning and actively share their expertise with their peers. Currently, many districts lack dedicated platforms where teachers can regularly convene for self-directed professional growth and collaborative problem-solving. Without such forums, there's a risk that educators may gradually revert to more traditional teaching approaches. The Teacher Leadership Circle directly addresses this gap by creating these vital spaces. Furthermore, by nurturing and empowering motivated and pedagogically skilled teachers, TLC enables the district to leverage their expertise to drive continuous improvement in the overall quality of education.
How We Empower Teacher Leaders
The Teacher Leadership Circle employs a comprehensive approach, encompassing several key components designed to empower teacher leaders and foster thriving communities of practice:
Formation of TLC
In all active TIP blocks, 1-2 Teacher Leadership Circles (TLCs) are formed, each comprising ~20 teachers and guided by 2 CEQUE-identified teacher leaders/ambassadors to promote collaboration.
Online Master Classes
Annually, TLC offers ten engaging online master classes led by subject experts on topics chosen by teachers. CEQUE manages expert sourcing and seamless organization of these sessions.
Monthly TLC Meetups
Monthly TLC meetings facilitate member-led discussions on teaching challenges and innovations. CEQUE supports these meetings by providing spaces and practical, actionable resources for common classroom issues.
Leadership Meets
CEQUE hosts bi-annual Leadership Meets for teacher leaders to share innovations, learn from peers, and build community.
Online Community Engagement
TLC fosters a vibrant online teacher community on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp for sharing practices, discussing subject interests, and extending collaboration beyond monthly meetups.
The Foundation:
The Teacher Innovator Program
Our vision of empowered teacher leadership is realised through the Teacher Innovator Program (TIP), where dedicated coaches provide ongoing, personalised classroom support to teachers, focusing on practical techniques for core subjects and fostering effective learning environments through regular visits, coaching, and progress monitoring. Building on TIP's foundation, the Teacher Leadership Circle sustains positive change by nurturing teacher communities of practice, where dedicated teacher leaders, often TIP alumni, are identified and supported to initiate and guide local learning communities, fostering a culture of lifelong engagement.
Ultimately, our Teacher Leadership Circle builds upon the impact of TIP by creating supportive structures that empower teachers to:
Take Ownership of Learning
Encourage proactive engagement in their ongoing professional development.
Foster Collaboration
Build a strong professional community centred on continuous improvement and shared learning.
Cascade Best Practices
Share effective teaching strategies and insights with their colleagues.
Contribute to District Improvement
Provide a platform for motivated and pedagogically skilled teachers to meaningfully contribute to enhancing the overall quality of education within their district.
By strategically investing in teacher leadership, and building directly upon the successes and learnings of our Teacher Innovator Program, we are committed to creating a more resilient and continuously improving education system that ultimately benefits countless students.
