What is a Teacher Leader? 

God only knows....And the most hilarious (or sad depending upon how you look at it) part is that I am in a graduate program to get a Teacher Leader endorsement on my teaching certificate.  WHAT??  

Imagine this scenario - a year ago, one friend says to another, "Hey, I'm not going to move on the pay scale and if I don't start taking some graduate courses."  

          The other friend says, "Me too!"  

          Friend #1 makes this grand statement, "Why don't we go to Elmhurst College and go through their Teacher Leadership program?  I saw some advertisement for it.  We can get graduate hours that way and we can get the teacher leader endorsement on our certificates at the same time.  Having that endorsement will look really good for us."  

          "Ok, but do you know what the program is all about?...How much work is it?...I'm not really sure it is for me...you know I'm not a leader!!"

          "It will be just fine. We can do it together."

One year later and three courses under our belts (currently in the 4th class...Issues in Teacher Leadership)...and the one friend (ahem, me -- wink, wink, nudge, nudge) says to the other,  "This teacher leader endorsement thing is not ok!"

So why isn't it ok? 

Well, quite honestly, I don't like my eyes opened for me!  Let me explain...I like trudging along in my classroom, doing my own thing, planning lessons and working my magic in MY classroom.  It's worked just fine for me for a long time.  And then when I hear myself say those words..."it's worked just fine for ME" - I stop dead in my tracks.  Am I one of those teachers I used to look at and think wow, times have changed and that poor teacher really needs to get with the program - there is so much new in education and they are just so old school.  Don't they know that education is not about them?  Am I one of those?  Am I taking points off of papers for not heading it properly?  Am I taking a point off because the student is not using a grading pen when grading?  And why don't they have supplies?  A red pen was one of the supplies listed on the supply list at the start of the year....

Do you know people like that?  I do.  Do you know those teachers who will not change what they are doing because that is what they have always done?  I do.  Do you know of teachers who if you ask if they want to join you and plan a lesson together they are just too busy; they can't seem to find the time to plan?  I do.  I'm not saying these teachers are bad but maybe they could be better. 

And yes, that is me...I rant and rave about kids not having their school supplies.  I am SO busy I can't possibly find the time to plan with others (hey, why would I...what I've been doing has been working great for ME!)

In the courses I've taken at Elmhurst College, in their Teacher Leadership program, I've realized I can be better.  My eyes have opened and I'm not so sure I like what I see.  Is being a teacher really about ME?  (I want to say yes, because if I do my job will be so much easier.)

But here is the thing...it is so hard to change.  Do I have it in me? 

This blog is going to be my rantings and ravings on what teacher leadership really is...it's not only going to be what I learn, but how it applies to the classroom...it's going to be truthful and honest.

#ican'tbelievei'mreallydoingthis  :)