Why Teacher Leadership?

Teacher leadership is a natural and necessary outgrowth of the increased demands for excellence being placed on schools. Overcoming the problems plaguing schools requires new and dynamic forms of leadership, which Howey defines as "coalescing others to act when they otherwise might not have." Teachers must assume leader ship positions, argues Howey, that will enable them to model methods of teach ing, coach and mentor colleagues, study critically and thoughtfully various as pects of classroom life, develop curricu lum and instructional materials, and strengthen relationships between the school and home.