Ohio Teacher Leadership Framework

The Ohio Teacher Leadership Framework includes five broad components of teacher leadership. The five components address the essential aspects of teacher leadership that are research-based, stakeholder-driven and grounded in state and national standards for teachers. Teacher leaders often engage in the aspects of these components simultaneously. No component is more important than another since teacher leadership varies from context to context. Schools and districts can use the five teacher leadership components as they develop and expand a culture that supports teacher leadership in their local contexts. These components also can drive the preparation and ongoing development of teacher leaders and principals.

The Five Components of the Teacher Leadership Framework

Fostering Collaborative Culture

Teacher leaders facilitate an environment of trust and foster a welcoming and positive collaborative culture. Teacher leaders ground their work in mutual trust and clear communication with colleagues, administrators, students and families. Teacher leaders use effective interactions that engage colleagues of different backgrounds in responding to challenges and building consensus. The collaborative culture increases teacher collaboration and builds collective responsibility and efficacy.

Advancing Instruction and Student Learning

Teacher leaders seek out current research, share it with colleagues, and apply the research to improve teaching practices, content knowledge, and student learning; and to advance school programs and goals. They analyze school, district, state, and/or national data as relevant to their work. They lead the use of data to inform and guide instructional decisions. Teacher leaders understand the needs of adult learners and use this understanding to engage their colleagues in individual and collective reflective dialogue using evidence (e.g., observations, student work, assessment data) to help make connections to research-based effective practices. Teacher leaders engage in the development, implementation, and evaluation of professional development activities that are job-embedded and ongoing for teachers at the local, state and/or national levels.

Driving Initiatives

Teacher leaders actively identify challenges/areas for improvement and innovation in the school, district, and state/national educational landscape. They collect and consider perspectives of other stakeholders and propose action steps to drive change. They meet their commitments and mobilize people into action. Teacher leaders are advocates for student needs and for professional and ethical practices and resources that support effective teaching and enhanced student learning.

Practicing Professionalism and Ethics

Teacher leaders practice professional, core ethical values of integrity, honesty, fairness and dignity. They foster a positive and welcoming culture that seeks to understand students' needs and respect the uniqueness of individual students. They champion meeting individual needs through professional practice, and believe that all students and educators are capable of learning and growth. Teacher leaders work to ensure that all students receive a high quality education. Teacher leaders accept responsibility to continuously grow and develop. Teacher leaders regularly engage in reflection on and refinement of their practice by seeking feedback from colleagues, setting self-improvement goals, and committing to ongoing professional learning to enhance their effectiveness. They collaboratively develop and adapt their roles and responsibilities in response to the local educational context.

Building Relationships and Partnerships

Teacher leaders create and build strategic relationships and partnerships to enhance student outcomes. They reach out and connect the appropriate partners (e.g., colleagues, families, administrators, community members, public officials, higher education) to address immediate and future needs of students, colleagues, school, their profession, and their communities. They communicate and collaborate effectively to build relationships and partnerships that are sustainable.
 

Last Modified: 7/23/2025 9:50:25 AM

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