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Discussion: Lead Teachers and Teacher Leadership


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posted by: Bob Box on November 4, 1998 at 12:28PM
subject: Please append this to my earlier discussion.
Brian,
Please append this to my earlier discussion. It extends job descriptions
with more detail. The cut and paste may not translate accurately, please
check for spacing. Drop me a line if you need anything further. Thanks! Bob

JOB DESCRIPTIONS - TEACHER LEADERSHIP:
As a component of creating learning communities, the MSI utilizes
leadership teams to provide expertise at each
school site. Leaders in the areas of science, mathematics and technology
are fostered by the MSI. The members of
the various leadership teams become advocates and resources for other
teachers at the individual school sites in
providing leadership in professional development in their specific areas of
expertise.

Elementary Science Synergy
The Elementary Science Synergy Team involves a group of district leaders
who are master teachers in professional
critical skills as well as outstanding hands-on, minds-on facilitators of
science. They have extensive training in
several skills that include: equity, study group theory, integration, brain
compatible learning, systemic thinking,
team building, adult learning theory, inquiry learning, the Concerns Based
Adoption Model (CBAM) along with
studying the National Science Standards and the Benchmarks for Science
Literacy.

They are responsible for introducing and supporting teachers new to
teaching in the MPS science curriculum as
well as providing different school sites with workshops in the following
areas: team building, assessment,
inquiry, systemic change, integration, and communicating science content.



Elementary Math Mentors
The Math Mentors are full time elementary teachers. They serve as a site
based representative to support the Basic
Skills Resource Teachers in the area of mathematics. These individuals have
a thorough knowledge of district
math curriculum and work with, and are respected as a valuable resource by
fellow teachers. The Mentors have
had extensive training in NCTM Standards based instruction, communicating
content, CBAM, and utilizing
technology and manipulatives to further enhance mathematical understanding
and encourage discourse.

The mentors are responsible for all communication for the site leadership
team. They disburse MSI information
and communicate class offerings in math and provide updates on district
Math Resource Lab materials. They
attend monthly inservices to enhance leadership skills and develop new
techniques and strategies for math
instruction. They act as mentor teachers for teachers new to teaching and
for others in the area of mathematics
instruction.



Junior High Math Synergy Team
There is a math synergy team member from each junior high site. Junior high
math synergy leaders participate in
training in current research, instructional strategies and practices, and
NCTM Standards. They act as a support to
the math department chairs and an additional resource to the math
department. They attend professional
conferences and workshops for the purpose of sharing new knowledge with
other team members as well as
providing professional development at their sites.



Elementary Technology Liaisons
The technology liaisons are full time elementary teachers. There are two
technology liaisons from each school site
that support the school in utilizing technology effectively in the
classroom. The technology liaisons attend an
informational meeting every month with the Instructional Technology
Department and the MSI. They also attend
professional development sessions five times throughout the school year.
These meetings are coordinated by the
MSI with assistance from the Instructional Technology Department. During
the professional development
sessions, teachers receive training in utilizing technology in the math and
science classroom and also on topics
such as assessment, software evaluation, leadership, and NCTM/NSTA
Standards. The technology liaisons then
return to their respective school sites and conduct workshops/inservices
for their teachers. They also serve on their
school leadership team in developing the site plan for their school each
calendar year.


Junior High Technology Synergy Team
There is a technology synergy team member from each junior high site.
Junior high technology synergy leaders
participate in training in the change process, models of professional
development, and specific math/science
software and instructional strategies that utilize technology. They support
teachers at their individual school sites
in the effective use of technology in the mathematics and science
classroom. The junior high technology synergy
team members have developed four workshops available to teachers throughout
the district. These include: Math
Mania (software in mathematics), Spreadsheets in Math and Science, The Use
of Vernier Probes in the Science
Classroom, Utilizing the Internet in the Math and Science Classroom. Each
junior high technology team member
is a critical member of the leadership team that develops the school's site
plan for each calendar year.



Elementary Science Liaison
The Science Liaisons are made up of two representatives from each school.
Their job is to be information conduits
between the Science Resource Center and their individual sites. They
participate in monthly meetings; one of them
from each site goes to an informational meeting, and the other goes to a
training meeting.



Junior High Science Synergy Team
The Junior High Science Synergy Team consists of 12 members, one from each
JHS. They are individually
trained in a number of areas, and facilitate training for other science
teachers in the district. They also act as a
source of information for other science teachers in their department about
upcoming training or educational
opportunities. They were chosen for their abilities to enhance the
instructional strategies of their colleagues, as
well as their willingness to participate in district-sponsored workshops,
seminars and projects, and share that
information with their colleagues.

For more information, please visit our website at www.mesa.k12.az.us/~msi
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