The Leader Within: Understanding and Empowering Teacher Leaders will assist schools in developing effective teacher leaders based on the Teacher Leader Model Standards. The goal of growing a culture of teacher leadership is to assist in creating a school culture committed to raising student achievement. This book is not intended to be solely used as a means of professional development, but to grow teacher leadership in schools and school districts. The center of effective teacher leadership is empowering teachers to be leaders in establishing a culture that is focused on student development and growth.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 Domain 1 Fostering a Collaborative Culture to Support Educator Development and Student Learning Group processes for collaboration Listening, presenting ideas, and leading discussions Facilitation skills to create trust among colleagues Inclusive culture and diverse perspectives Understanding different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures Domain 1 Summary Chapter 2 Domain 2 Accessing and Using Research to Improve Practice and Student Learning Accessing and using research Analysis of student learning data Collaborating with outside organizations Collect, analyze, and communicate data Domain 2 Summary Chapter 3 Domain 3 Promoting Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement Planning professional learning Adult learning Professional learning among colleagues Technologies to promote collaborative and differentiated professional learning Quality professional learning Job-embedded professional learning Providing constructive feedback to colleagues Emerging education, economic, and social trends in planning Domain 3 Summary Chapter 4 Domain 4 Facilitating Improvements in Instruction and Student Learning Collection, analysis, and use of classroom- and school-based data Reflective dialog with colleagues Mentor, coach, and content facilitator Team leadership Emerging technologies Diversity and equity in the classroom Domain 4 Summary Chapter 5 Domain 5 Promoting the Use of Assessments and Data for School and District Improvement Use of multiple assessment tools Interpreting student data to improve educational practice and student learning Climate of trust and critical reflection Using data to promote changes in instructional practices Domain 5 Summary Chapter 6 Domain 6 Improving Outreach and Collaboration with Families and Community Effective interactions among colleagues, families, and the larger community Effective communication and collaboration skills with stakeholders Culturally responsive strategies to enrich the educational experiences of students Diverse educational needs of families and the community Comprehensive strategies to address diverse educational needs Domain 6 Summary Chapter 7 Domain 7 Advocating for Student Learning and the Profession Local, state, and national trends and policies Advocate for teaching and learning processes Securing additional resources that support student learning Professional resources, including financial support and human and other material resources Advocate for the profession in contexts outside of the classroom Domain 7 Summary Final Thoughts about Teacher Leadership