Preparing Teacher Leaders to Lead Professional Learning: Insights from the National Writing Project

Teacher leaders can play a valuable role in supporting the professional learning of their colleagues. They can draw on their own teaching experiences to coach teachers, and they are well-positioned as school leaders to improve the instruction of their colleagues. However, there are a few potential challenges with teacher leaders facilitating professional learning. They may not be familiar with the instructional strategies their colleagues are learning, or they may lack the skills needed to support other teachers in learning how to apply them. This brief offers insights to help address these challenges based on the National Writing Project's experience preparing teachers to lead one of its professional development programs. The insights are relevant for preparing teacher leaders to facilitate professional learning in all areas of instruction.