10 Ways to Identify, Coach, and Support Teacher Leaders

Recently I came upon a great idea from Bill Ferriter on The Tempered Radical where he asks the question, "What do teacher leaders need from administrators?"  This is a fantastic question.  As principals begin to implement changes in their schools, they need to have a finger on the pulse of their teacher leaders.  These "high flyers" are the group that will be the tipping point for momentum in the building.  If a principal can gain support for changes from the teacher leaders, the teacher leaders will then become strong salespeople and recruiters with the rest of the staff.  Identifying, coaching, supporting teacher leaders is one of the most important things a principal can do.  And so.....on to 10 ways to identify, coach, and support teacher leaders:

1. Find those teachers with a strong moral compass for students.  The teachers who place the students' interests over their own.
2. Empower them to try new ideas and to share with others. 
3. Model positive approaches to reflection in the light of critical feedback.
4. Talk through and share your own thought process on decisions and ideas with teacher leaders.
5. Search out feedback from teacher leaders...don't wait for them bring it to you.
6. Talk with teacher leaders and find out what their personal/professional goals are.  Then actively try to help them achieve those.
7. Allow teacher leaders to mentor other teachers but also provide them with feedback on their mentoring.
8. Model continuous learning.  Take them through book studies, share current educational literature, provide opportunities to attend conferences and attend them yourself (within reason), share your experiences with learning from your mistakes.
9. Understand that when your teacher leaders leave to pursue leadership opportunities in other places (teacher leader becoming administrator in another building) this reflects well on your leadership.  Don't be afraid of what you will lose when they leave, the quality of teacher you attract will be much higher than you were able to attract before you began growing teacher leaders.
10. Don't be afraid to admit when you are wrong.  Your teacher leaders will see your humility and learn much from it.