"This is an insightful analysis on how to cultivate and empower teachers to become genuine leaders in their schools and classrooms, and an invaluable guide for any school district trying to implement genuine, sustainable reform." -Pedro Noguera, Professor New York University "The beauty of this book is the authenticity of the voices. The fact that struggles and conflicts are included make the teachers' stories believable, fresh, and inspiring." -Pamela S. Hankins, Staff Development Specialist Springfield Public Schools, MO "Krovetz and Arriaza go directly to the source in this insightful look at the challenges, successes, and professional/personal transformations when teachers engage in collaborative leadership roles in the schools. A great read " -Robert Topf, Principal Parkview Elementary School, San Jose, CA "Reading about the field experiences of other teacher leaders will inspire and guide the reader towards making a positive impact on student achievement. This is a must-have book for any current or future teacher leader." -Mike Greenwood, District Teacher Leader Windsor Public Schools, CT Who better to illustrate the challenges and rewards of teacher leadership than teachers themselves? As the pressure of external accountability has intensified, teachers are being asked to play increasingly important leadership roles. Yet few teachers are prepared to accept this daunting responsibility without first building their leadership capacity. By placing teachers??? voices and stories at the center of this book, authors Martin L. Krovetz and Gilberto Arriaza reveal how approaches like collaboration, the use of data, a focus on equity, and job-embedded professional development have beenincorporated into real-world settings to lead and manage change successfully. Ideal for group study, this practical resource includes Reflective questions to help apply teacher stories to specific situations Dozens of first-person narratives representing a wide range of voices Strategies for documenting and sustaining growth as a teacher leader

Based on the authors??? work with hundreds of teacher leaders, this essential guide is ideal for teachers, administrators, leadership teams, and school improvement teams to achieve the goal of every school-maximizing student learning.