Teacher Leader Model

The expectations of students and teachers have increased significantly. Teachers need support to meet the demands of society and the needs of students to prepare for an ever-changing world. Teacher leaders provide the support system for teachers by communicating, mentoring, and coaching using data and research-based practices to improve instruction and promote student growth.

Competencies and Beliefs

Stewart County teacher leaders believe...

• all students can learn at high levels with the correct level of support.
• great teachers reflect and continually try to improve through data collection and professional learning.
• instructional decisions should be based on students’ individual needs.
• data should drive instruction.
• all teachers have strengths that can be shared within their learning community.
• all teachers can continue to grow and learn.

Stewart County teacher leaders have the capacity to...

• plan and lead collaborative meetings and professional learning sessions with teachers and administrators.
• be strong collaborators, instructors, mentors, coaches, and positive leaders within the school.
• make instructional decisions based on what is most impactful for students.
• select appropriate interventions based on data.
• advocate for student learning and teacher support.

Roles and Responsibilities  

Mentor

• Participates in three-year mentoring program with a novice teacher
• Supports novice or struggling teachers with classroom instruction
• Serves as a model teacher by providing classroom-based instructional mentoring
• Encourages and supports beginning teacher to demonstrate leadership

Data Coach

• Analyzes data and work with administration and faculty to generate effective responses to school and student needs
• Works with teachers on analyzing their own data, including benchmarks, and using it to enhance and engage student learning
• Consolidates data and generates graphic visualizations
• Collaborates with instructional leaders on RTI² data

Curriculum & Instructional Leader

• Collaborates with data coaches on RTI² data management, training, and student placement
• Monitors the development of RTI², balanced assessment, and classroom assessments for student learning
• Works with teachers to develop and maintain content-specific pacing charts
• Provides coaching and assistance to all staff to improve student achievement

Culture Broker

• Supports improving school culture by encouraging positive student behavior
• Tracks and monitors student behavior data and make recommendations on what interventions could remedy identified issues
• Serves as chairperson of the PBS council
• Reaches out to the community in an eff ort to provide student incentives to reward a positive culture

Cost and Sustainability

The teacher leader positions in Stewart County Schools have been incorporated into the district’s differentiated pay plan. The funding for teacher leader positions will be sustained through local extended contract, general purpose, and Title I funds. These funds have been allocated to various positions in past years, but will now be shifted toward funding newly formed teacher leader positions.

Sustainability Strategies

• Teacher leaders plan, organize, and facilitate building-level professional learning.
• Positions are adjusted to align with established roles and responsibilities of newly-created teacher leader positions.
• Each teacher leader maintains their status as a full-time classroom teacher.