Teacher Leader Stories

Judy Swanson leads a not-for-profit research and evaluation firm, Research for Quality Schools, in Seattle, WA. For 20 years she has conducted research in urban schools throughout the US. Her expertise and recent research has focused on teacher leadership, professional development for instructional improvement, and teacher development at all stages of a teacher′s career. She has worked with CSTP to develop and facilitate case writing retreats for teacher leaders since 2003. Swanson received her PhD in educational psychology at Stanford University. For 19 years, Kimberly Elliott has written about P–16 education reform issues, raised funds to support innovative health and education projects, and developed curriculum materials. As The Word Mechanic, she currently helps clients such as The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP), Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) create resources that promote changes in teacher practice and in educational systems to enhance student learning. She began her career at Wheelock College, where she helped advance the professional and leadership development of early childhood teachers. She has special expertise in writing for the Web and has contributed to online learning environments such as EDC’s Success at the Core leadership development website. A published author, she produces training guides, reports, articles, policy briefs, and white papers for early childhood educators, educators, and policy-makers and has edited books published by Jossey-Bass, Rowman-Littlefield, and Heinemann. Jeanne Harmon is the founding Executive Director for the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession, an independent nonprofit organization focused on improving teaching quality in Washington State. Before launching CSTP in 2003, she managed the public-private partnership that created Washington’s statewide system of support for National Board Certification. CSTP develops leadership skills and promotes leadership opportunities for the state’s 5200 National Board Certified Teachers as well as hundreds of mentors and instructional coaches and other accomplished teachers across Washington. Previously, Jeanne taught elementary and middle school in Central Kitsap School District (Silverdale, WA), directed technology and professional development efforts there, and spent five years in the Northeast coordinating services to a network of 70 schools committed to math and science reform.

• Foreword by Barbara MillerPrefaceAcknowledgementsAbout the AuthorsIntroductionWho This Book Is ForOverview: How to Use Case Analysis and WritingOrganization of the Book1. The Value of Case Methods: Promoting Reflection on the Precarious Real World of LeadershipWhy Use Case Methods to Support Teacher Leaders?How Do Case Methods Promote Teacher Leaders′ Professional Growth?Why Invest in Teacher Leaders′ Growth?The Efficacy of Case Writing: Findings From CSTP′s SeminarsFraming the Leadership Dilemmas2. Effective Approaches to Case Analysis and Case WritingFacilitating Case AnalysisLearning to Write Cases - A Tool for Professional Growth3. School-Level Leadership DilemmasHow Hard Do I Push?Navigating New Waters: The Voyage of a Teacher Leader on the Sea of ChangeOut of the Closet . . . And Out the Door?Overwhelmed and UnderappreciatedFree Money?When Do I Tell?4. District-Level LeadershipFilling a Leadership VacuumConsidering All VoicesCrossroadsWhere Do I Stand? Leadership in a Culture of Us and ThemPreparing for the Future? Reliving the Past?Is it Just a Crazy Dream?5. State- and National-Level LeadershipTruth and PowerOne Step Forward, Two Steps BackHanging in the BalanceTransitions6. How to Use Cases to Support Teacher Leadership: Case-by-Case Facilitation GuidesFacilitation Guide for How Hard Do I Push?Facilitation Guide for Navigating New WatersFacilitation Guide for Out of the Closet . . . And out the Door?Facilitation Guide for Overwhelmed and UnderappreciatedFacilitation Guide for Free Money?Facilitation Guide for When Do I Tell?Facilitation Guide for Filling a Leadership VacuumFacilitation Guide for Considering All VoicesFacilitation Guide for CrossroadsFacilitation Guide for Where Do I Stand? Leadership in a Culture of Us and ThemFacilitation Guide for Preparing for the Future? Reliving the Past?Facilitation Guide for Is It Just a Crazy Dream?Facilitation Guide for Truth and PowerFacilitation Guide for One Step Forward, Two Steps BackFacilitation Guide for Hanging in the BalanceFacilitation Guide for TransitionsSumming UpGoing Forward: From Words to ActionsResourcesResource A. Recommended Books, Websites, and ReadingsResource B. Just What Is Teacher Leadership?Resource C. CSTP Framework and ToolsResource D. Case-Writing Seminar Part 1: Sample AgendaResource E. Case-Writing Seminar Part 2: Sample AgendaReferences

"Teaching and learning go hand in hand.  We do not learn to teach, we learn from our teaching.  This book offers a coherent, constructivist approach to do just that. It makes the daily life of classrooms accessible for thoughtful exploration and powerful learning."