Module One -

What is your general definition of teacher leadership?

The desire and strength in character to be willing to assume responsibility within the academic and school culture to further enhance the educational experience for students.

What examples of teacher leadership have you observed or experience?

My experiences come, most recently from my college career.  I have observed some Professors who are willing to assume extra academic and advisory roles (without compensation) in order to assist students and help them reach their academic goals.  Yet there are other Professors who are less than earnest in working with students for the required classes. 

There was a teacher, many years ago, who took upon herself a responsibility to teach her students to read.  Although she was the Title XX (I think that was the program) teacher, and it was her responsibility, she did not confine that role to the classroom.  She often gifted her students with books and more than once my children received a special incentive from her for their reading accomplishments, long after they had moved out of her classroom.  My son still tells about her gift of a particular volume of Harry Potter, 5 years after he left her classroom.  Mrs. Hanson not only inspired the students, but other teachers were moved by her willingness to share and her passion for reading and education.

How is leadership for meaningful technology integration different from other kinds of leadership?

Any affiliation with technology requires a special skillset.  Just as some people excel in math, science, or language arts, so too do some people excel in technology skills.  The interaction that is needed to merge technology and people (with a variety of skills) is fluid.  The methods and techniques that work in one situation may not work in another.

I believe that oftentimes, an informal teacher leader will emerge within a school culture, simply because that is what that person is good at doing.  This is not the fellow teacher who “fixes” an issue for a computer, but rather one who fixes and helps their fellow teacher prevent the issue from reoccurring.

What are the benefits and the challenges of teacher leadership for technology?
*BENEFITS:   I would like to think that eventually, this leadership role would translate to quicker access to new technology.  There is also the personal satisfaction that comes from helping other teachers.  It is of no little benefit that the assumption of a teacher leadership role in technology would also improve the educational experience and interaction with students.

*CHALLENGES:  Maintaining a current knowledge of technology is time consuming, there is a learning curve that varies from person to person, but it is impossible for one person to stay abreast of all issues and new gadgets.  Additionally, when one earns the reputation of being a “go to” computer person, a certain responsibility is associated with that expectation, one that is often hard to maintain and balance with the day to day commitments of work and life.