Abstract
The focus of this chapter is why teacher leadership is of interest to researchers and practitioners despite its lack of a clear definition. It is claimed that if notions of leader and leadership are solely attributed to those holding formal roles or positions then this is a problem. The view is advanced that informal interactions with colleagues matter and these are seen as offering opportunities for extending spheres of influence. That such interactions are typically not deemed as leadership work seems to be because those sharing their influence have no particular leadership title. This chapter signals the need for a conceptual separation of the terms leader and leadership so as to make room for formal and informal leadership. It is asserted that how teachers use and share their professional knowledge with colleagues is what matters. This is seen as collective rather than individual work, to which all may contribute, regardless of whether they hold a designated role or title. Essentially it is the shared commitment to the moral purpose of the school which is of prime concern. This accounts for a preference for the term “leadership” over “leader” recognising that teachers, interchangeably, can be leaders and learners who work for the needs of students rather than for personal gain or status.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Cooper, K. S., Stanulis, R. N., Brondyk, S. K., Hamilton, E. R., Macaluso, M., & Meier, J. A. (2016). The teacher leadership process: Attempting change within embedded systems. Journal of Educational Change, 17(1), 85–113.
Frost, D. (2014, September). Non-positional teacher leadership: A perpetual motion miracle. Paper presented within the symposium “Changing teacher professionality through support for teacher leadership in Europe and beyond” at the European Council for Educational Research (ECER) Conference, Porto, Portugal.
Hallam, P. R., Smith, H. R., Hite, J. M., Hite, S. J., & Wilcox, B. R. (2015). Trust and collaboration in PLC teams: Teacher relationships, principal support, and collaborative benefits. NASSP Bulletin, 99(3), 193–216.
Harris, A. (2007). The current crisis in leadership: Threat or opportunity? School Leadership and Management, 27(2), 105–107.
Lambert, L. (2003). Leadership capacity for lasting school improvement. Alexandria, Virginia, USA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Lovett, S., & Cameron, M. (2011). Career pathways: Does remaining close to the classroom matter for early career teachers? A study of practice in New Zealand and the USA. Professional Development in Education, 37(2), 213–224.
MacBeath, J. (2009). Recruitment and retention of senior school leaders: Meeting the challenge. European Educational Research Journal, 8(3), 407–417.
MacBeath, J., & Dempster, N. (Eds.). (2009). Connecting leadership and learning. London: Routledge.
Macpherson, R. (2010). Neophyte leaders’ views on leadership preparation and succession strategies in New Zealand: Accumulating evidence of serious supply and quality issues. Leading and Managing, 16(1), 58–75.
McCulla, N. (2012). The transition of accomplished teachers from the classroom to school leadership. Leading and Managing, 18(2), 79–91.
Poekert, P. E. (2012). Teacher leadership and professional development: Examining links between two concepts central to school improvement. Professional Development in Education, 38(2), 169–188.
Tolhurst, J. (2006). Coaching for schools. A practical guide to building leadership capacity. Harlow, England: Pearson Education.
Tschannen-Moran, M. (2001). Collaboration and the need for trust. Journal of Educational Administration, 39(4), 308–331.
York-Barr, J., & Duke, K. (2004). What do we know about teacher leadership? Findings from two decades of scholarship. Review of Educational Research, 74(3), 255–316.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lovett, S. (2018). Why Is There an Interest in Teacher Leadership?. In: Advocacy for Teacher Leadership. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74430-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74430-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74429-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74430-8
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)