A Powerful Reading
Teachers should always be aware of their biases when reviewing research; however, it can be a nice feeling when one comes across an article that confirms their teacher intuition, and convinces them to double down in their practice based on findings they discover. Van der Heijden et al.,'s (2015) article, "Characteristics of teachers as change agents," gave me just such a feeling as they identified four (4) characteristics defined by eleven (11) elements which would identify a teacher leader as an agent of change in their school community.
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Mastery, as defined by the giving effective guidance, accessibility, positivity, self-assuredness, trustworthiness, and commitment to the student.
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Entrepreneurship, as defined by an innovative spirit and a sense of responsibility to lead students and colleagues.
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Lifelong learning, as defined by an eagerness for continuous improvements in their knowledge and practice as a teacher, and regular practitioner of critical reflection.
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Collaboration, as defined by a teacher's collegiality and commitment to being an engaging part of a team.
When in the classroom, I strive to embody these characteristics and they have lead to some extraordinary results which has improved student engagement, performance, and also expanded my professional network. You can view some of the results of extracurricular student work here on the Machine Club Blog.
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While I have been in a consulting role ​for the past two years, ​I still strive to contribute to education community. Most recently, I presented at a province wide conference for postsecondary curriculum developers. You can find the conference schedule here.
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van der Heijden, H. R. M. A., Geldens, J. J. M., Beijaard, D., & Popeijus, H. L. (2015). Characteristics of teachers as change agents. Teachers and Teaching, Theory and Practice, 21(6), 681–699. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2015.1044328
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