Teacher Leadership Congressional Briefing

At a teacher leadership panel sponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons, NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook moderates a discussion about how to create structures in schools that support increased roles and responsibilities for teachers. 

Pictured from left to right: New Leaders Senior Policy Director Sarah Rosenberg, North City School (Athens City Schools, Tennessee) Master Teacher Angel Hardaway, Van Hook (center, behind podium), Central Decatur Community School District (Iowa) Superintendent Chris Cofflelt and Teach Plus President and CEO Roberto Rodriguez.

Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley addresses the teacher leadership panel: "Teacher leaders teach other teachers so that they can be their best," Grassley said.

Grassley, along with Sens. Chris Coons, Joni Ernst and Jack Reed, introduced the Teachers Are Leaders Act last year to create partnerships between colleges and high-need schools to develop and support innovative teacher leader roles.

"Teacher leadership programs are an innovative approach to improve instruction in schools," Grassley said in a press release on today's event. "They provide an opportunity for experienced teachers to continue to grow professionally, an important factor in retaining good teachers. Iowa is a national leader in teacher leadership programs, and I believe the state can be a model for others to follow."

Teach Plus President and CEO Roberto Rodriguez (far right): "I believe one of the most important drivers for changing outcomes for our students is strengthening opportunities for teachers to learn, grow and take on responsibilities to lead in their schools." Also pictured are NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook and Central Decatur Community School District (Iowa) Superintendent Chris Coffelt.

North City School (Athens City Schools, Tennessee) Master Teacher Angel Hardaway (second from left): "Without having a structure for teacher leadership, I would be stagnant and looking for something more in my career. Now I am content working with teachers to help them grow, but I’m also ready for the next level." Also pictured are New Leaders Senior Policy Director Sarah Rosenberg (far left) and NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook.

Central Decatur Community School District Superintendent Chris Coffelt: "Teacher leadership demystified effective teaching. It transformed our old ways of professional development into a high-quality clinical model that supported and sustained teacher learning. Our school culture became one of rolling up our sleeves and working with each other." Also pictured is NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook.

New Leaders Senior Policy Director Sarah Rosenberg: "We think about teacher leadership as an end of itself, for teachers to push themselves and to support principals through a distributed leadership model. But it is also a way to prepare aspiring principals for future leadership opportunities." 

We have a packed house at the teacher leadership congressional briefing, sponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley offered remarks, and NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook led a panel featuring (from left to right) New Leaders Senior Policy Director Sarah Rosenberg, North City School (Athens City Schools, Tennessee) Master Teacher Angel Hardaway, Van Hook (center, behind podium), Central Decatur Community School District (Iowa) Superintendent Chris Coffelt and Teach Plus President and CEO Roberto Rodriguez.

Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley visits with Central Decatur Community School District (Iowa) Superintendent Chris Coffelt at the teacher leadership panel. Grassley called Coffelt's work "innovative."

"Federal grants allowed us to invest in teacher leadership in our rural district," said Coffelt. "What started as a ripple became a wave in Iowa when our teacher leadership work became a model for the state and led to state funding that is dedicated to teacher leadership."

Grassley is a co-sponsor of the Teachers Are Leaders Act. Learn more about the Teachers Are Leaders Act in this Grassley press release.

Photo courtesy of Senator Grassley's Instagram page.

A delegation of NIET partner educators took to Capitol Hill to promote teacher leadership. 

From left to right: Chris Coffelt (superintendent, Central Decatur CSD, Iowa); Angel Hardaway (instructional coach, North City School, Athens City Schools, Tennessee); Kevin R. George (superintendent, St. John the Baptist Public School System, Louisiana); Lori Line (principal, West Goshen Elementary School, Indiana); and Dr. Saul Hinojosa (superintendent, Somerset Independent School District, Texas).