Equipped for Excellence: 5 Tips for Teacher Leaders from 25 Years of Impact
January 22, 2025
Over our 25 years in practice, NIET knows one thing to be true: Great educators are the foundation for great education. Teachers and teacher leaders play a vital role in each student’s learning experience - and providing teachers with effective tools, resources, strategies and time is critical to supporting an environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
As a nod to our milestone 25th anniversary moment, our signature report Building Educator Excellence: 25 Years of Impact includes key ways to equip teachers and teacher leaders for excellence:
- Cultivate a Growth Mindset and Choose to Teach Students With the Greatest Needs: Recognizing and celebrating each student’s learning and how it is building toward success will foster stronger relationships and school communities.
- Be Innovative and Use Data to Drive Instruction: Reflecting on instructional practices and student outcomes creates an example for students to understand and learn from their data and work.
- Assess the Needs and Strengths of Each Student and Let Those Drive Efforts: Research-based practices and strategies are most effective when implemented in ways that address the unique needs of students and capitalize on the strengths of the community.
- Engage Other Educators, Parents, and Community Members: Be mindful of the ways you can engage each of these groups in the work of improving teaching and learning, building on community values and resources, and supporting student success.
- Take Full Advantage of Leadership Opportunities Within the School and District: Research and experience have shown that leadership is not a zero-sum quantity in schools. Taking on a leadership role enhances, rather than limits, opportunities for other teachers to engage in leadership.
Our insights and tips don’t stop here. If you’re a school, district, university, or state leader, NIET included tailored tips for each level of the education system in our anniversary report. Check out what tips we have for your role to further excellence in education in the report feature 25 Years, 25 Ways to Improve.