Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities

Directions: For each element, rate yourself in one of the following three categories. Then provide examples of your experiences in the
leadership domain. Finally, identify areas within each domain where you are interested in growing as a teacher leader. On the last page,
summarize your strengths and areas of possible growth. Boxes will expand as needed.
 Exploring/Emerging (E/E) - a level of practice in which the teacher leader relies on ongoing assistance from more experienced
colleagues for support, guidance, and survival. The teacher leader is moving toward becoming more self-directed and independent in
her/his practice.
 Applying (A) - a level of practice in which the teacher leader is able to provide independent leadership and easily applies what s/he
has learned about leadership.
 Integrating/Innovating (I/I) - a level of development in which the teacher leader is fully skilled and confident. The
Integrating/Innovating teacher leader contributing to the broader educational community through staff development, research, or
publication in professional journals.

Domain 1: Fosters a Collaborative Culture to Support Educator Development and Student Learning E/E A I/I
a) Utilizes group processes to help colleagues work collaboratively to solve problems, make decisions,
x
manage conflict, and promote meaningful change.
b) Models effective skills in listening, presenting ideas, leading discussions, clarifying, mediating, and x
identifying the needs of self and others in order to advance shared goals and professional learning.
c) Employs facilitation skills to create trust among colleagues, develop collective wisdom, build ownership x
and action that supports student learning.
d) Strives to create an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are welcomed in addressing challenges. x

e) Uses knowledge and understanding of different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and languages to x
promote effective interactions among colleagues.
Three Examples of Domain 1 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 I have been blessed with the opportunity to work My areas of growth are Domains 1a and 1b. While I feel I am
at a school where cultural backgrounds amongst a good participator in our collaborative hours with my
the students, teachers, and administration are colleagues, I do not always feel comfortable voicing my
celebrated. As an Armenian school, a core part of opinions when they are conflicting with a peer. When
our instruction is creating an inclusive culture. A presenting, I am very focused on the emotions of the room
percentage of every day is used to teach about and can sometimes stop what I am saying if it is upsetting
how that culture helps create our diverse others. I would like to work on being more comfortable
perspectives and that diversity is what helps make expressing myself with peers.
our world become so unique.
 As a Persian American, I use my background
knowledge and experiences to help me understand
the different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures
of my colleagues. A strength that I have is my
eagerness to learn about other cultures and to
show respect in every interacting with my peers.
These have helped with facilitating trust with my
colleagues.
 Another strength that I exhibit in this domain is my
willingness to learn the Armenian language and
infuse it in my instruction with students and
interactions with staff. During math time,
Armenian counting and numbers are substituted
for English ones. Every colleague is greeted in
Armenian and I encourage both colleagues and
students to teach me new words every week.
tomorrow

Domain 2: Accesses and Uses Research to Improve Practice and Student Learning E/E A I/I
a) Assists colleagues in accessing and using research in order to select appropriate strategies to improve x
student learning.
b) Facilitates the analysis of student learning data, collaborative interpretation of results, and application x
of findings to improve teaching and learning.
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 1
 c) Supports colleagues in collaborating with the higher education institutions and other organizations x
engaged in researching critical educational issues.
d) Teaches and supports colleagues to collect, analyze, and communicate data from their classrooms to x
improve teaching and learning.
Three Examples of Domain 2 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 This past summer, I was given the opportunity to An area of growth for me in this Domain is area 2c. I would
attend the SDE conferences in Las Vegas. A like to collaborate with higher education institutions and
responsibility given to me by my administrator was other avenues to support my colleagues in research critical
to use this opportunity to help educate the educational issues. A key part of this will be increasing my
colleagues who were not in attendance of the best comfortability with staff to be critical of our teaching
applications to improve teaching and learning. I practices in order to find great opportunities for growth and
used what I learned from the conference to hold a research.
PLC time in which I presented my finding to my
colleagues with a variety of resources.
 Throughout this year, using the knowledge I gained
from the SDE conferences, I have continued to be a
liaison for my colleagues in modifying their
instruction by collecting data using the new
methods I shared to improve their teaching and
learning.
 A new program I have been using this year to
assess my student learning while engaging parents
to not only participate but be aware of what the
results mean is leveled readers. Bi-weekly students
are given a reading passage at their level that they
read to me while being timed. I highlight any
missed words and record their time. Parents are
then asked to record their child’s missed words and
times nightly for the entirety of the two weeks
until their child is fully proficient.

Domain 3: Promotes Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement E/E A I/I

a) Collaborates with colleagues and school administrators to plan professional learning that is team-based, X
job-embedded, sustained over time, aligned with content standards, and linked to school/district
improvement goals.
b) Uses information about adult learning to respond to the diverse learning needs of colleagues by X
identifying, promoting, and facilitating varied and differentiated professional learning.
c) Facilitates professional learning among colleagues. X
d) Identifies and uses appropriate technologies to promote collaborative and differentiated professional X
learning.
e) Works with colleagues to collect, analyze, and disseminate data related to the quality of professional X
learning and its effect on teaching and student learning.
f) Advocates for sufficient preparation, time, and support for colleagues to work in teams to engage in job- X
embedded professional learning.
g) Provides constructive feedback to colleagues to strengthen teaching practice and improve student X
learning.
h) Uses information about emerging education, economic, and social trends in planning and facilitating X
professional learning.
Three Examples of Domain 3 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 At my school, a huge benefit of the small class sizes Domain 3a is an area of growth for me that I have a lot of
and staff is that we have become very closely interest in. I would like to become more vocal with my school
linked. All of my colleagues have built an administrators and take a leadership role in planning team-
understanding that we can learn from each other based professional learning. I believe this will benefit me in
and give suggestions in their interest areas for not only taking a leadership position in an area of my school
growth. This was helpful in a most recent instance but in building an even stronger rapport with my colleagues
in which I found a great math conference for my and administrators.
coworker who teaches most of the grade levels
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 2
 math. She was very responsive and grateful for my
recommendation and will be looking into
attending.
 After my first year of teaching and going through
the WASC approval process, I realized an area that
we were really lacking in was time for staff to work
together and brainstorm. I spoke privately with my
administrator and advocated for this time. This
idea was reiterated in a staff meeting with a list of
reasons why it would be beneficial for the school
as a whole. We now have prep times based on
teachers who can collaborate with each other and
it has been a great asset in our development.
 Through TED Talks, teacher discussion boards,
research, and articles, I have been keeping up to
date with the trends and emerging education ideas
to plan future professional learning times so that I
can be the most effective educator for the time
and generation that my students are growing up in.

Domain 4: Facilitates Improvements in Instruction and Student Learning E/E A I/I

a) Facilitates the collection, analysis, and use of classroom and school-based data to identify opportunities X
to improve curriculum, instruction, assessment, school organization, and school culture.
b) Engages in reflective dialog with colleagues based on observation of instruction, student work, and X
assessment data and helps make connections to research-based effective practices.
c) Supports colleagues’ individual and collective reflection and professional growth by serving in roles such X
as mentor, coach, and content facilitator.
d) Serves as a team leader to harness the skills, expertise, and knowledge of colleagues to address X
curricular expectations and student learning needs.
e) Uses knowledge of existing and emerging technologies to guide colleagues in helping students skillfully X
and appropriately navigate the universe of knowledge available on the Internet, use social media to
promote collaborative learning, and connect with people and resources around the globe.
f) Promotes instructional strategies that address issues of diversity and equity in the classroom and X
ensures that individual student learning needs remain the central focus of instruction.
Three Examples of Domain 4 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 During the WASC Accreditation program, I was a Domain 4d is the area of growth I have identified for this
liaison in collecting data within my classroom and domain because I recognize that I am still working on my
the entire school to identify opportunities of ability to be a team leader and not just a support staff
improvement in organization, instruction, member. At times, my colleagues struggle to identify their
curriculum, and culture. strengths in terms of how we can work together to build the
 A great tool I have been able to utilize at my school strongest team at our school possible. I would like to rise to
is the ability to be open and honest about the the occasion as a leader to guide this team to their fullest
curriculum we are teaching. I have been advocating potential.
for new teaching materials and resources as many
of ours are outdated and no longer as useful.
 At least one period every few days is spent
reflecting on how we are doing as content
facilitators and how we can be better. This has
been supporting myself and my colleagues in
bouncing ideas off of each other and creating new
strategies for the classroom.

Domain 5: Promotes the Use of Assessments and Data for School and District Improvement E/E A I/I
a) Increases the capacity of colleagues to identify and use multiple assessment tools aligned to state and X
local standards.
b) Collaborates with colleagues in the design, implementation, scoring, and interpretation of student data X
to improve educational practice and student learning.
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 3
 c) Creates a climate of trust and critical reflection in order to engage colleagues in challenging X
conversations about student learning data that lead to solutions to identified issues.
d) Works with colleagues to use assessment and data findings to promote changes in instructional X
practices or organizational structures to improve student learning.
Three Examples of Domain 5 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 I share results of my assessments with hidden While I have worked hard to create a climate of trust with my
student names to my coworkers that are in charge colleagues, Domain 5c is still an area of growth for me
of teaching the same subject for feedback and to because the critical aspect of reflection is not yet set. I would
improve student learning through their strategies. I like to use the foundation of trust I have established with the
also reciprocate this feedback with my colleagues. staff to engage them and inspire them to be more critical in
 Our TerraNova standardized test results are their reflections so they feel more responsible in
analyzed per grade level and we brainstorm ways
for the students to do better without teaching to
the test. We have worked as a team to identify
more assessment tools to help assess throughout
the year how they are doing on state standards.
This way it is not just one assessment that
determines their readiness and skill for the next
year.
 A colleague was recently having trouble with
creating an assessment for a student with
exceptional educational needs. We collaborated at
length to create an assessment that tested his
learning in a fair and encouraging way. This
assessment required many trials and errors but it
was a great learning experience for both of us.

Domain 6: Improves Outreach and Collaboration with Families and Community E/E A I/I
a) Uses knowledge and understanding of the different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and languages in X
the school community to promote effective interactions among colleagues, families, and the larger
community.
b) Models and teaches effective communication and collaboration skills with families and other X
stakeholders focused on attaining equitable achievement for students of all backgrounds and
circumstances.
c) Facilitates colleagues’ self-examination of their own understandings of community culture and diversity X
and how they can develop culturally responsive strategies to enrich the educational experiences of
students and achieve high levels of learning for all students.
d) Develops a shared understanding among colleagues of the diverse educational needs of families and the X
community.
e) Collaborates with families, communities, and colleagues to develop comprehensive strategies to address X
the diverse educational needs of families and the community.
Three Examples of Domain 6 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 My communication and collaboration with families Domain areas 6a and 6c are my areas of interest for growth
is one of my strongest suits as an educator in this domain because I have worked very hard in promoting
according to parents when they were asked what understanding and knowledge in different backgrounds,
they love about my classroom. I attribute a large however I know I can stand to grow with the aspect of
portion of this to my use of Seesaw. Parents are involving the larger community. I also know I can be a better
given constant peeks into the methods of teaching, facilitator in guiding colleagues in their self.-examination of
learning, and problem solving in the classroom that their understandings of culture.
helps attain equitable achievement for the
students.
 Student diversity is celebrated and discussed at
lengths within our colleague group. A particular
example of this was when a student was having
trouble retaining information and had a sudden
decline in abilities. Without my knowledge of their
close family member’s cancer diagnosis, my
Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 4
 colleague would have been at a loss on what to do
to help this student. We worked together to put
together a plan to help him with a differentiated
approach to homework to ensure his success while
enabling him to cope with the issues at home.
 Another tool in the collaboration with families is
my weekly update email which identifies areas of
strength and areas of growth for my students in
lessons. It also addresses future lessons and the
modifications that have been implemented.
Parents hold private discussions with me to
establish the best learning methods for their
children.

Domain 7: Advocates for Student Learning and the Profession E/E A I/I
a) Shares information with colleagues within and/or beyond the district regarding how local, state, and X
national trends and policies can impact classroom practices and expectations for student learning.
b) Works with colleagues to identify and use research to advocate for teaching and learning processes that X
meet the needs of all students.
c) Collaborates with colleagues to select appropriate opportunities to advocate for the rights and/or needs X
of students, to secure additional resources within the building or district that support student learning,
and to communicate effectively with targeted audiences such as parents and community members.
d) Advocates for access to professional resources, including financial support and human and other X
material resources, that allow colleagues to spend significant time learning about effective practices and
developing a professional learning community focused on school improvement goals.
e) Represents and advocates for the profession in contexts outside of the classroom. X
Three Examples of Domain 7 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
 An idea that we created as a staff this year was to An area of growth for this domain is 7a, I have yet to share
advocate for more financial support in order to information beyond my colleagues to the district or even
have access to more resources for our school. We other schools. I think sharing information will also help me
created a wishing tree filled with our classroom collect more data in order to become more impactful for my
wish lists and advertised it to family members for students and their learning.
the holiday season.
 I have been collaborating with our on-site
psychologist to aid a few students with their
emotional needs in order to secure resources to
support their learning from our school and the
greater community of educators.
 My colleagues and I have been working on
expanding our knowledge as educators through
research and identifying the best teaching
processes to meet the needs of all students
through our weekly meetings. Each week we try to
present new findings and ideas to reach this goal.

Summary of Strengths and Areas of Possible Growth

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 5
 My strengths as a teacher lay in my communication, collaboration, and research to create the best educational
environment for my diverse students. Through this year and my FOTIP program I have been working hard to push myself
even more as an educator and learner to exhibit the best teaching practices. I would like to grow into an educational
leader and work on a more rigorous critique and reflection of myself and my colleagues to better ourselves. I would also
like to continue to push for more of a voice at my school and in my district to share my thinking and to receive knowledge
from more avenues. I want to create more opportunities for growth for my students, colleagues, administrators,
community, and myself.

Self-Assessment of Teacher Leader Qualities (adapted from Teacher Leader Model Standards (http://www.teacherleaderstandards.org/) 6