Education officials are increasingly recognizing the value of teacher leadership, tapping the educators who can bring their colleagues along to implement innovations in policy and practice. A recent report from Chiefs for Change documents how the New Mexico Public Education Department has invested in developing teacher leaders.
The state’s work began several years ago and has built a variety of channels through which teacher leaders are empowered to effect positive changes, ranging from programs in which teachers build curriculum or provide feedback on state initiatives, to those where they influence policy or share messages with their peers at the school level. Each summer, state education officials bring teachers from all programs and every district together for a summit to share ideas, build momentum, and celebrate success Starting in the 2015-16, the state department has added a Teacher Liaison, an educator who takes a year’s leave of absence to become a point person for the 23,000 teachers statewide.