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
1.) As PLC lead, I facilitate biweekly meetings with a This is my first year as a PLC lead, and I have been fortunate
detailed editable agenda that allows for to work with a group of dedicated and experienced teachers.
collaborators to add discussion points, share While most of our meetings go well, I sometimes feel like
celebrations and concerns, and ideas for SMART there is some difficulty in encouraging members to share
goals. what could be considered “dissenting” or “unpopular”
2.) I facilitate round-robin sessions with PLC team to opinions. I want to create an environment where all
share tips, tricks, and strategies, including group members feel like they can share their viewpoints without
grading sessions to check for consistency with fear of retaliation. I have not been in a position where
grading. mediating/managing conflicts has been required, but I would
3.) I am sensitive to the beliefs and backgrounds of my like to be better prepared for when it does happen.
colleagues when planning meetings/events near
holidays (ex. No meetings on Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur).

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
1. As one of the more tech-savvy members of my PLC, I am at a point where I am comfortable with analyzing the
I make myself readily available to my team data that our administrators provide us each week, but I
members and new hire mentees to help them would like to become more confident and efficient with how
implement appropriate tools within their virtual to best synthesize that information and implement
classrooms (ex. Using an engagement tracker to meaningful changes in a way that is meaningful to student,
determine how active students are during a beneficial to staff, and follows state standards.
lesson).

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 1
 2. Every week one of our assistant principals sends
out a collection of spreadsheets with student
escalation data (contacts, attendance, lesson
completion), as well as monthly progress reports
for students. I collect the data for my PLC members
and use it to direct conversations toward what
strategies we have found beneficial for student
engagement and what is not contributing to
student success.
3. As we prepare for lessons and major portfolio
assignments for students, I curate a shared Google
Drive with resources that are available to all
members of the team. I encourage members to add
resources to the drive and will refer to it when we
develop new curriculum.

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
1. I have helped run several mini training seminars Similar to Domain 2, I am comfortable gathering and
that are held once a week (ex. Prioritizing your analyzing information, but I would like to become more
work tasks, using the virtual library, and facilitating confident with how to best implement the information that I
efficient curriculum-based assessment calls). collect in order to reach schoolwide goals.
2. I utilize Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Adobe
Connect/LiveLesson to run collaborative meetings I tend to be a bit overcritical of myself and others, and I
based on the needed tools and desired outcomes would like to learn how to not only provide more
(screen sharing, recording meetings, file sharing, constructive and meaningful feedback for my colleagues, but
etc.). to also have kinder and more reflective self-assessment as
3. I work with our assistant principal in charge of well.
onboarding new staff to determine a timeline for
new teacher trainings that are sensitive to
scheduling conflicts (quarter grades, state testing,
holidays, etc.). We strive to provide new school
staff with adequate training and time to ask for
help/clarification so they feel comfortable moving
forward with their responsibilities as they progress
during the school year.

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.

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 2
 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
1. Meets monthly with school leadership team to As PLC lead, I often find myself struggling to get colleagues to
review grade/content area strengths and share during meetings. Many of our most constructive
weaknesses based on Assessment Objective discussions happen in a more relaxed/informal environment,
Performance Report (AOPR) for individual students and I would like to identify what it is about that mindset that
and whole-group classes. lends itself to more open and candid discussions about
2. Acts as an ACE (advocate for culture and instruction and data than a more formal and planned-out PLC
engagement) representative for whole school meeting.
(7000+ students in CA) that meets monthly with
other teachers/reps from around the country to Our school has strict rules about not using social media as an
discuss ways to increase staff engagement within engagement tool in our instruction, which seems a little
the online environment. counter-productive considering we are an online school. I
3. Works normalize inclusive language within would like to learn safe and effective social media strategies
instruction, has identified outdated lessons within that can be proposed to school administrators that would
curriculum, and works with at-risk LGBTQIA to allow teachers to use these tools for collaborative learning.
provide a safe online learning environment (ex.
Making sure to use correct pronouns/avoid
deadnames during lessons, warn students ahead of
time of possibly triggering material, etc.).

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
1.) Encourages colleagues (in PLC and other Our school’s curriculum has been designed and implemented
departments) to refer to AOPR report in student by our parent organization, and it does not allow for much
gradebooks to identify standards being tested and customization at this point in time. I would like to work with
if students have met those standards or not based our school administration more closely to discuss changes we
on assessment results recorded (quizzes, test, would like made to assignments and curriculum, preferably
quick checks and practice assessments). in a way that uses data as evidence to justify these changes.
2.) Compares data from previous school years
(SharePoint houses data/scores for reference) to
assess whether student averages are increasing or
decreasing and encourages colleagues to reflect:
what changes did we make that benefitted student
understanding? What areas are students struggling
with, and how can we address these?
3.) Works with PLC to identify curriculum that we
would like to replace/keep as we prepare for

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 3
 transition to new program and updated curriculum
for the 2020-2021 school year.

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
1.) Implements school-provided interpreter service I have always been fascinated with other cultures and take
when working with families where English is not any opportunity to learn more about my students’
the primary language in order to more thoroughly backgrounds. This included taking several cultural
involved non-English speaking caretakers. anthropology courses in college. I feel that I have the tools
Communicates with colleagues about religious required to research other cultures, but I would like to
holidays to be mindful of (ex. State testing during become more comfortable with teaching colleagues how to
Ramadan). educate themselves about different cultures in a way that is
2.) As an NHS advisor I work with students and respectful. I would like to look into developing a resource for
colleagues to organize community events and teachers within my school to learn more about our diverse
outreach (ex. Working at local food bank). student population.
3.) Shares experiences with colleagues re: working
with families in unique situations (religious
objections to certain lessons, accommodating
homeless families in compliance with McKinney-
Vento act, helping families find resources within
their communities, such as libraries with computer
access).

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

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 4
 1. I follow several different education organizations As I work in an online environment it can be a bit tricky
on social media (including NCTE, CATE, CTA, and navigating the best resources available for employees at our
NEA) and will forward relevant articles to school. We have teachers all across the state, so identifying
colleagues, as well as use any applicable research the best resources for teachers can be dependent on their
studies within PLC meetings to compare with data location. Also, having recently completed my taxes, I came
specific to our school (ie state testing averages). across some unique situations as a work-from-home
2. Participates in monthly leadership meetings to professional, and I would like to find out how best to advise
bring suggestions from PLC—taught a schoolwide teachers on correctly filling in their tax documents (or find a
mini-training on dealing with difficult trained representative to provide this information).
conversations with caretakers and conflict-
management strategies dealing with high-need
families.
3. Representative for new teachers to administration.
I meet with new teachers and help them navigate
our online SharePoint and UltiPro human resource
systems. I am always a “MoM” representative
(Meeting of the Minds) and will listen to
complaints and suggestions from teachers within
the school and report them to admin anonymously
in order to respect the privacy of the teacher
sharing their suggestion/concerns.

Summary of Strengths and Areas of Possible Growth

Overall, I feel as though I am a leader who is not afraid to identify problem areas and work with my colleagues (both
within my PLC and in other departments). I enjoy a challenge and working to find solutions that are beneficial for all
involved. I am able to identify resources and provide training in various areas (tech issues, training teachers on our online
program, etc.). I enjoy teaching adults as well as children, and I believe this is one of my biggest strengths as a teacher
leader.

As far as growth is concerned, I feel like where my strengths lie in identifying/collecting data I could work on how best to
synthesize and implement the information I obtain. I would like to work on how best to present information to colleagues
and administration in a cohesive and efficient way. I tend to be so detailed-oriented that I can “get lost” in the nuances
and details of presenting information and can provide more than is necessary. I want to streamline my processes to not
only become a better data collector, but to also share this data with my colleagues. It is one thing to develop
assessments/strategies to collect the data, taking the necessary steps to gather the data, it is another to be able to use the
information to make meaningful change.

Also, SPREADSHEETS. I want to learn how to develop Excel spreadsheets to present information.

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 5