The first article, “Teacher Leadership to Higher Student Test Scores in New Study” by Madeline

Will (2017) suggested that students who go to schools where their teachers have a leadership role
in decision making perform significantly higher on state tests. Within this study, two aspects of
leadership were tested: Do school leaders have an instructional focus, in the sense that they place
teaching and learning at the center of their decision making? And are teachers included in that
decision making beyond the classroom? Will (2017) speculated that when teachers are enforcers
of rules made by others (rules they may not agree with) it may disrupt their relationships with
their students. When teachers have discretion and authority, they are able to tailor discipline to
individual students. Overall, when teacher roles are larger, the relationships are better, student
interest is higher, and student engagement is higher.

In the second article, “Transformational Classroom Leadership” Pounder (2006) explores the
relationship between the teacher leadership and transformational leadership concepts. Pounder
(2006) examines how the teacher leadership idea has developed over the years and argues that
transformational leadership is a logical extension of the teacher leadership construct and that the
teacher leadership idea is relevant to a school setting. Pounder (2006) argues that teacher
leadership is in three waves. The first wave confined teacher leadership within the formal
organizational hierarchy and merely placed the concept close to the teaching function. The
second wave separated out leadership from the teaching function and still emphasized control
with curriculum developers and instructional designers creating pre packaged materials for the
classroom teachers to implement. The third wave of teacher leadership integrates the notions of
teaching and leadership. Pounder (2006) also discussed Transformational Leadership.
Transformational Leadership contains four characteristics: Idealized Influence or Charisma,
Inspirational Motivation, Individual Consideration, and Intellectual Stimulation. Overall,
Pounder (2006) concluded that teacher leaders employ transformational leadership qualities in
the classroom that lead to the perception that they are exemplary teachers.

I resonate with article 1. This one directly effects my teaching practices. Since I have taken on
more leadership roles on campus, I have been able to find a more disciplined classroom
environment.

Pounder, James. “Transformational Classroom Leadership”. Sage Journals. (2006)

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1741143206068216

Will, Madeline. "Teacher Leadership Is Linked To Higher Student Test Scores In New Study".
Education Week - Teaching Now, 2019,
https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2017/10/teacher_leadership_student_achieveme
nt.html