Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities

Directions: For each element, rate yourself in one of the following three categories. Then provide examples of your experiences in the
leadership domain. Finally, identify areas within each domain where you are interested in growing as a teacher leader. On the last page,
summarize your strengths and areas of possible growth. Boxes will expand as needed.
 Exploring/Emerging (E/E) - a level of practice in which the teacher leader relies on ongoing assistance from more experienced
colleagues for support, guidance, and survival. The teacher leader is moving toward becoming more self-directed and independent in
her/his practice.
 Applying (A) - a level of practice in which the teacher leader is able to provide independent leadership and easily applies what s/he
has learned about leadership.
 Integrating/Innovating (I/I) - a level of development in which the teacher leader is fully skilled and confident. The
Integrating/Innovating teacher leader contributing to the broader educational community through staff development, research, or
publication in professional journals.

Domain 1: Fosters a Collaborative Culture to Support Educator Development and Student Learning E/E A I/I
a) Utilizes group processes to help colleagues work collaboratively to solve problems, make decisions,
X
manage conflict, and promote meaningful change.
b) Models effective skills in listening, presenting ideas, leading discussions, clarifying, mediating, and X
identifying the needs of self and others in order to advance shared goals and professional learning.
c) Employs facilitation skills to create trust among colleagues, develop collective wisdom, build ownership X
and action that supports student learning.
d) Strives to create an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are welcomed in addressing challenges. X

e) Uses knowledge and understanding of different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and languages to X
promote effective interactions among colleagues.
Three Examples of Domain 1 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
I collaborate with colleagues to solve problems and make I would like to gain a better understanding of the different
decisions for our school. This includes collaborations on backgrounds and cultural aspects for all of my students. I
grading, student behavior, class norms and communicating often feel like I am playing catch up when it comes to what
with our students effectively. life events have impacted my students and their home/social
lives. This has a significant effect on their learning and its key
I also strive to create an inclusive culture where a wide information that will help me grow as an educator. I need to
range of perspectives are welcomed for deeper seek this information out myself.
conversations with colleagues and students. I don’t shut
down people that disagree with myself or others. I want to
hear their perspective and encourage others to listen
before responding/shutting them down.

I also have been able to model effective skills for presenting

ideas and leading discussions in helping advance our goals.
One example of this is how I approach student led
discussions and encourage students to elaborate on their
ideas and ask them to clarify their ideas to build up their
developing skills as communicators.

Domain 2: Accesses and Uses Research to Improve Practice and Student Learning E/E A I/I
a) Assists colleagues in accessing and using research in order to select appropriate strategies to improve X
student learning.
b) Facilitates the analysis of student learning data, collaborative interpretation of results, and application X
of findings to improve teaching and learning.
c) Supports colleagues in collaborating with the higher education institutions and other organizations X
engaged in researching critical educational issues.
d) Teaches and supports colleagues to collect, analyze, and communicate data from their classrooms to X
improve teaching and learning.
Three Examples of Domain 2 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
I believe that I support my colleagues in collaborating I want to take on a stronger leadership role with helping to
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 1
 through working with them on collective research for facilitate meetings regarding how to interpret student data
critical education issues and tackle classroom solutions such and apply solutions to improve learning. I feel like I earned
as “no opt out” questions as a cohort. my spot in these meetings this year, but need to take a larger
step towards leadership.
I also work with my colleagues to collect data from progress
reports, attendance submitted work and surveys to analyze
the data and identify cross classroom patterns. We have
had a lot of issues with attendance and we have been using
this data to determine possible reasons for absences and
whether it’s a school issue or a personal issue for each
student.

We also discuss possible solutions to these issues and offers

methods of assisting across departments, admin and SPED.
One example of this supporting our approach to ELLs and
what steps we can take as a school to ensure their needs
are met and they are not falling behind their peers.

Domain 3: Promotes Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement E/E A I/I

a) Collaborates with colleagues and school administrators to plan professional learning that is team-based, X
job-embedded, sustained over time, aligned with content standards, and linked to school/district
improvement goals.
b) Uses information about adult learning to respond to the diverse learning needs of colleagues by X
identifying, promoting, and facilitating varied and differentiated professional learning.
c) Facilitates professional learning among colleagues. X
d) Identifies and uses appropriate technologies to promote collaborative and differentiated professional X
learning.
e) Works with colleagues to collect, analyze, and disseminate data related to the quality of professional X
learning and its effect on teaching and student learning.
f) Advocates for sufficient preparation, time, and support for colleagues to work in teams to engage in job- X
embedded professional learning.
g) Provides constructive feedback to colleagues to strengthen teaching practice and improve student X
learning.
h) Uses information about emerging education, economic, and social trends in planning and facilitating X
professional learning.
Three Examples of Domain 3 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
I really appreciate that my school has 3 professional I think that I would benefit from emphasizing my role as a
develop meetings a week and that we have taken a larger leader and facilitate professional meetings. I have some
emphasis on content standards-based teaching. We even experience presenting ideas and lesson plans for staff to use,
started instructional planning around goals for our students but nothing that I brought to the group individually. I also
and ourselves regarding reading, writing and spelling. We want to work on identifying emerging tools and resources to
also work together to provide different tools and provide my students to help develop and facilitate
technologies for each other to promote professional professional learning.
learning such as Google Classroom, Actively and other
sources for communicating and provides resources.

I also have become an advocate for sufficient prep time for

my colleagues to complete deadlines provided by
administration such as grades and lesson plans relating to
professional learning.

I also enjoy spending time with colleagues and providing

feedback on their practices and offering my approach as an
example what they can use in their class. Just last semester
I provided feedback on a lesson that one of our middle
school teachers was using in a lesson about the Salem
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 2
 Witch Trials.

Domain 4: Facilitates Improvements in Instruction and Student Learning E/E A I/I

a) Facilitates the collection, analysis, and use of classroom and school-based data to identify opportunities X
to improve curriculum, instruction, assessment, school organization, and school culture.
b) Engages in reflective dialog with colleagues based on observation of instruction, student work, and X
assessment data and helps make connections to research-based effective practices.
c) Supports colleagues’ individual and collective reflection and professional growth by serving in roles such X
as mentor, coach, and content facilitator.
d) Serves as a team leader to harness the skills, expertise, and knowledge of colleagues to address X
curricular expectations and student learning needs.
e) Uses knowledge of existing and emerging technologies to guide colleagues in helping students skillfully X
and appropriately navigate the universe of knowledge available on the Internet, use social media to
promote collaborative learning, and connect with people and resources around the globe.
f) Promotes instructional strategies that address issues of diversity and equity in the classroom and X
ensures that individual student learning needs remain the central focus of instruction.
Three Examples of Domain 4 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
I feel that I am able to provide leadership in helping I want to emphasize collecting data through observation,
colleagues develop their skills and expertise with student work and assessment data and compare it with
curriculum and assisting students with learning needs. I research-based practices that will assist our students and
found the latter to be an area I wanted to emphasize over staff in their learning and approach to instruction. I also have
the last 2 years, and I now see it as a strength. spent time working with younger colleagues to help provide
assistance in an informal setting but would like a more formal
One of the benefits of being a younger teacher is that I am role as a mentor or facilitator to provide help and insight into
more familiar with the technologies and tools that are any issues they run into.
available. This has let me take on a leadership role in
guiding students and teachers to help navigate these tools.
This can be social media platforms, online articles, guides,
or learning platforms all of which provide students and
teachers with equitable access to resources.

I do engage with reflective dialogue with colleagues based

on observation and student work, but mostly to look for
patterns rather than emphasize research-based practices.
We look for common issues are students deal with in terms
of reading, writing and communicating to determine the
best approach to solving this issue.

Domain 5: Promotes the Use of Assessments and Data for School and District Improvement E/E A I/I
a) Increases the capacity of colleagues to identify and use multiple assessment tools aligned to state and X
local standards.
b) Collaborates with colleagues in the design, implementation, scoring, and interpretation of student data X
to improve educational practice and student learning.
c) Creates a climate of trust and critical reflection in order to engage colleagues in challenging X
conversations about student learning data that lead to solutions to identified issues.
d) Works with colleagues to use assessment and data findings to promote changes in instructional X
practices or organizational structures to improve student learning.
Three Examples of Domain 5 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
I collaborate with colleagues to interpret student data I am unsure on what exactly increasing the capacity of my
collected from various sources (assessments, attendance, colleagues to identify and use multiple assessment tools to
participation) to help design educational experiences that meet the standards refers to. I am assuming it means
will benefit our students and support their developing skills. working with colleagues to help them understand how these
standards apply their teaching and how to implement them
I believe that I am part of a climate where we can be honest effectively in the classroom. Sadly, our departments meet in
and reflect on whether we are doing what is best to help more frequently in grade level than content area. I plan on
students learn. This has led to some challenging pushing for this to change so that I can provide feedback in
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 3
 conversations, but ultimately everyone is open to an environment where I feel comfortable with the standards
revaluating their approach to student-oriented goals, lesson (my content area) to help grow in this area.
planning if it gets students to learn.

I work with my colleagues to promote changes in our

instructional practices. One example of this would be how
we placed a large emphasis on presenting students with the
understanding the learning objective at the beginning of
each lesson and always having it visible in the classroom to
students. I have found that students have had better
assessment results when I have them rewrite the goals and
this is something I point out when meeting with teachers
that are reluctant to follow these new guidelines.

Domain 6: Improves Outreach and Collaboration with Families and Community E/E A I/I
a) Uses knowledge and understanding of the different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and languages in X
the school community to promote effective interactions among colleagues, families, and the larger
community.
b) Models and teaches effective communication and collaboration skills with families and other X
stakeholders focused on attaining equitable achievement for students of all backgrounds and
circumstances.
c) Facilitates colleagues’ self-examination of their own understandings of community culture and diversity X
and how they can develop culturally responsive strategies to enrich the educational experiences of
students and achieve high levels of learning for all students.
d) Develops a shared understanding among colleagues of the diverse educational needs of families and the X
community.
e) Collaborates with families, communities, and colleagues to develop comprehensive strategies to address X
the diverse educational needs of families and the community.
Three Examples of Domain 6 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
One of the best parts of my school is how someone always I want to continue to collaborate with colleagues to address
knows what is going on with students and in the families need and the community wide needs of our
community. We know if a student is dealing with a personal students. I want to pull parents and the wider community
loss, poor health of a family member or even incarceration into these collaborative efforts to ensure our students feel
that will impact their educational needs. This of course also safe and supported on campus.
extends to what they need in the classroom (extra time,
reinforcement of ideas, or peer work).

I have gained a much better understanding of my students’

different backgrounds and culture having been able to
spend this year in person with them. I can see them in the
community outside of school and meet their parents. All of
this has helped me apply this information into my lessons.
Just last week I used the experience of living next to a large
Armenian population in a lesson about the Armenian
Genocide. Many students knew Armenian culture but were
ignorant to this event.

I do my best to collaborate with families on how to address

student needs, however many of parents are unable to join
in these discussions to their time constraints and work
schedules. Many of our students feel isolated, so my
colleagues and I try to ensure that students are offered as
much emotional support and educational support when
possible.

Domain 7: Advocates for Student Learning and the Profession E/E A I/I

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 4
 a) Shares information with colleagues within and/or beyond the district regarding how local, state, and X
national trends and policies can impact classroom practices and expectations for student learning.
b) Works with colleagues to identify and use research to advocate for teaching and learning processes that X
meet the needs of all students.
c) Collaborates with colleagues to select appropriate opportunities to advocate for the rights and/or needs X
of students, to secure additional resources within the building or district that support student learning,
and to communicate effectively with targeted audiences such as parents and community members.
d) Advocates for access to professional resources, including financial support and human and other X
material resources, that allow colleagues to spend significant time learning about effective practices and
developing a professional learning community focused on school improvement goals.
e) Represents and advocates for the profession in contexts outside of the classroom. X
Three Examples of Domain 7 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
One examples of working with colleagues to advocate for I would like to improve my advocacy for professional
the rights of our students is our communication to our resources and financial aid for myself and my colleagues. It
administration that students have been overwhelmed by can sometimes feel like we are on our own when it comes to
the current schedule that ensures they have no break buying materials and requisition forms can be a long and
between 9am-1:30pm longer than a 5-minute pass period. grueling process to have approved. I would like to speed up
We have gotten them to agree to a schedule change but are this process to ensure teachers are getting the support they
still waiting on when it will be implemented. The teaching need to meet student learning needs.
staff sought to change this because many students feel
burnt out spending such a long time in the classroom
without a break.

I also work with my colleagues to share information that we

gather about national trends or statewide policies that
impact our teaching. This ranges from COVID 19 mandates
to District wide emphasis on learning goals and
comprehension for students.

I often find myself advocating for my job as a teacher to

people that wonder what it was like teaching during the
pandemic both online and in person. I enjoy my job and
love talking to others about the highs and the lows because
it allows me to broaden their perspective on what the
profession is.

Summary of Strengths and Areas of Possible Growth

Strengths
Domain 3:
Collaborates with colleagues and school administrators to plan professional learning that is team-based, job-embedded,
sustained over time, aligned with content standards, and linked to school/district improvement goals.

Provides constructive feedback to colleagues to strengthen teaching practice and improve student learning.

Domain 4:
Serves as a team leader to harness the skills, expertise, and knowledge of colleagues to address curricular expectations
and student learning needs.

Uses knowledge of existing and emerging technologies to guide colleagues in helping students skillfully and appropriately
navigate the universe of knowledge available on the Internet, use social media to promote collaborative learning, and
connect with people and resources around the globe.

Domain 5

Creates a climate of trust and critical reflection in order to engage colleagues in challenging conversations about student

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 5
 learning data that lead to solutions to identified issues.

Works with colleagues to use assessment and data findings to promote changes in instructional practices or organizational
structures to improve student learning.

Domain 6:
Uses knowledge and understanding of the different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and languages in the school
community to promote effective interactions among colleagues, families, and the larger community.

Facilitates colleagues’ self-examination of their own understandings of community culture and diversity and how they can
develop culturally responsive strategies to enrich the educational experiences of students and achieve high levels of
learning for all students.

Domain 7:
Represents and advocates for the profession in contexts outside of the classroom.

Areas of Growth

Domain 2:
Assists colleagues in accessing and using research in order to select appropriate strategies to improve student learning.

Facilitates the analysis of student learning data, collaborative interpretation of results, and application of findings to
improve teaching and learning.

Domain 3
Facilitates professional learning among colleagues.

Domain 5
Increases the capacity of colleagues to identify and use multiple assessment tools aligned to state and local standards.

Domain 7
Advocates for access to professional resources, including financial support and human and other material resources, that
allow colleagues to spend significant time learning about effective practices and developing a professional learning
community focused on school improvement goals.

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 6