Teacher Leader Program

Chester County Schools

Chester County School System seeks to improve student outcomes by building the capacity of all educators. Teacher leaders provide the resources to increase collaboration, ensure alignment to standards, enhance literacy, implement effective assessments, and adjust instructional practices to maximize student benefit.

Competencies and Beliefs

Chester County teacher leaders believe...

  • all students can learn at high levels.
  • all teachers can perform at high levels.
  • collaboration is an essential element in building teacher capacity.
  • data can be used to improve student learning.
  • targeted professional learning is necessary for teachers to improve instruction and implement best practices.
  • learning is a lifelong process.

Chester County teacher leaders have the capacity to...

  • model effective elements of a lesson.
  • facilitate the creation of common assessments.
  • lead teachers in unpacking the standards.
  • analyze student data and use to guide instruction.
  • integrate the use of technology in instruction and coaching.
  • locate appropriate resources for teachers.
  • provide teachers with reading and writing strategies and ways to integrate into curriculum.
tln-chester-roles

Roles and Responsibilities

Content Area Coach & Instructional Coach

  • Models lessons
  • Peers review of instructional practices
  • Assists teachers in the use of best practices and resources
  • Facilitates creation of common assessments (6–12)
  • Ensures alignment of curriculum to content and rigor of TNReady (6–12)
  • Assists teachers in unpacking standards
  • Facilitates professional learning communities (PLCs) and professional learning

Data Coach

  • Analyzes student assessment data
  • Facilitates the use of data to guide instruction
  • Communicates with subject or grade level areas to compile school-wide data
  • Assists teachers in unpacking standards
  • Facilitates PLCs and professional learning

Curriculum Coach & Literacy Coach

  • Ensures alignment of curriculum to content and rigor of TNReady (K–5)
  • Facilitates creation of common assessments (K–5)
  • Assists teachers with reading and writing strategies (6–12)
  • Assists teachers in embedding appropriate text and writing practices in daily instruction (6–12)
  • Assists teachers in unpacking standards
  • Facilitates PLCs and professional learning

Technology Coach

  • Integrates the use of technology in instruction and coaching
  • Assists teachers in locating appropriate online resources
  • Assists teachers in utilizing state and district websites and software related to student data
  • Assists teachers in unpacking standards
  • Facilitates PLCs and professional learning

Cost and Sustainability

Chester County Schools is a TIF 4 district and will use funds from the differentiated pay plan to compensate teacher leaders to meet the needs of Chester County Schools and support teacher effectiveness across the district. The system will budget for stipends for 36 teacher leaders at a cost of $1,500 each per year for a total of $54,000 annually. Teachers serving as leaders for the district will maintain full-time classroom responsibilities with the addition of the teacher leader responsibilities.

Sustainability Strategies

  • Incorporate teacher leader trainings into professional development days to absorb extra costs
  • Reallocate general purpose funds for continuation of teacher leader roles once the TIF 4 grant has expired