Bradford Teacher Leader Network

Bradford Special School District
bradford

To further the academic success and growth of its teachers and students, Bradford Special School District (SSD) has implemented the Bradford Teacher Leadership Network (BTLN). To establish and maintain effective communication between teachers and administration, the district has implemented teacher leader network to provide coaching, mentoring, technology assistance, and professional learning to support academic success and teacher effectiveness. The BTLN works alongside data teams to analyze data to establish and meet district-wide goals of increasing early literacy foundational skills, ACT scores, and overall teacher growth scores.

Competencies and Beliefs

Bradford teacher leaders believe:

  • all students can and will learn.
  • effective professional learning focused on the educational needs of students is essential to both teaching and learning.
  • analysis of student data influences the decision making process which leads to improved student learning and growth.
  • Professional learning communities (PLCs) provide an avenue for strengthening relationships among colleagues and administration to promote student achievement and growth.

Bradford teacher leaders have the capacity to:

  • utilize effective strategies to ensure all students learn at a high level.
  • communicate and collaborate effectively with all stakeholders.
  • lead PLC meetings through demonstration of a positive and professional attitude.
  • plan, deliver, and implement professional learning that focuses on array of instructional needs.
There are 7 teacher leader positions in Bradford SSD. All teacher leaders are full-time teachers. Roles include instructional leader (4 positions), teacher mentor (1 position), and technology leader (2 positions).

Roles and Responsibilities

Instructional Leader

  • Designs and delivers high-quality and research-based professional learning
  • Researches and models best practices for the delivery of instruction
  • Assists in the facilitation of PLC meetings
  • Works with the data team to analyze and disseminate data
  • Assists teachers in the deconstruction of standards
  • Collaborates with teachers to develop pacing guides
  • Assists with the school-level improvement planning process

Technology Leader

  • Researches new technology and determines how it can be utilized effectively in the classroom to improve instruction/learning
  • Provides training for the implementation of technology in the classroom
  • Models the use of instructional technology in the classroom

Teacher Mentor

  • Provides instructional, technical, and evaluation support to stage 1 teachers
  • Collaborates with stage 1 teachers on planning, environment, and instruction
  • Locates and disseminates resources/materials for teachers
  • Utilizes data to assist teachers with planning and instructional strategies
  • Shares in the development of both instructional and classroom management strategies

Cost and Sustainability

Bradford Special School District currently provides stipends for teachers serving on various committees outside the regular school day. The district also utilizes two days of professional development to provide time for teachers to meet in PLC groups on a bi- monthly basis. Seven teachers serving as teacher leaders in the newly developed BTLN will receive stipends in the amount of $1,500 each from general purpose funds. Teachers serving in this capacity will maintain their current roles as classroom teachers and take on additional responsibilities in their new roles as teacher leaders. These stipends remain in effect for the next three years in order to maintain sustainability of the BTLN. During these three years, the program will be monitored for effectiveness in order to determine the feasibility of continuing the program.

Budget

Teacher Leader Role Number of Positions Cost Per Position Total
Instructional leader 4 $1,500 $6,000
Technology leader 2 $1,500 $3,000
Teacher mentor 1 $1,500 $1,500
Total teacher leaders 7   $10,500

Sustainability Strategies

  • Utilize differentiated pay plan to provide supplements for teacher leaders who take on additional responsibilities.
  • Continue to utilize general purpose funding.
  • Teacher leaders will have the opportunity to attend additional professional learning activities beyond the scope of the regular classroom teacher through the use of Title IIA funds.