Great to Influential: Teacher Leaders’ Roles in Supporting Instruction

For years, education leaders have sought to pinpoint how teachers become effective in order to better leverage teachers’ impact on student learning and improve student outcomes. From Good to Great: Exemplary Teachers Share Perspectives on Increasing Teacher Effectiveness Across the Career Continuum was the first of its kind to ask National and State Teachers of the Year what helped them become effective. In the report, State Teachers of the Year rated teacher leadership repeatedly as one of their most significant supports and growth experiences across their careers.

This report includes three main sections: the characteristics of teacher leaders, the roles teacher leaders take in improving teacher practice, and the supports and barriers to teacher leadership. The report concludes with specific policy recommendations for supporting teacher leadership in state and local contexts.