Twenty-six teachers complete teacher leadership induction program 

Twenty-six Hampton City Schools teachers recently completed the Teacher Leader Program. The HCS teacher leadership series is a two-year comprehensive professional learning program designed by Dr. Kim Richardson, director of induction and development, and Heather Peterson, climate and culture director. 

“When it launched in 2016, the goal of the program was to ‘reproduce’ the training we provided to our division-level instructional coaches,” said Richardson. “However, we quickly discovered that coaches and teachers' leadership development needs were not the same.”

The series presents eight mini-classes under four major focus areas: communication, collaboration, leadership, and diversity equity and cultural competence. There is a required introduction prerequisite offered at various times during the summer and then each semester, two classes are offered. Any educator with 3+ years of experience are invited to participate. However, the unique fact about this series is that it also serves as the HCS 5-Year Induction Program's last two years of activities. 

 

The teacher leadership program, "Lead From Where You Are," encompasses two key aspects. The first option is open to any educator within HCS who identifies as a leader but may be uncertain about the next steps to take. Whether they are experiencing a “leadership itch” or feel a strong drive to bring about change in their school, this series is designed for those teachers. It caters to those who are professionally restless and seeking avenues to exert their influence.

 

The second option caters specifically to fourth and fifth-year teachers who initially joined the division as beginners. The division has provided support to this group of teachers during their first three years, helping them become successful in their classrooms. Once they have established a strong foundation, they transition into the Teacher Leadership series. 

 

“It is important to note that our intention is not to push teachers away from the classroom if that's where they prefer to be, nor are we grooming them for future administrative roles,” shared Richardson. “Instead, our goal is to cultivate a leadership mindset within them. We strive to prepare teachers to broaden their perspective beyond the four walls of their classroom. We equip them with essential skills in communication, collaboration, leadership, and cultural responsiveness. This way, they can make a positive and meaningful contribution to their school community.”

 

The following teachers completed the program during the 2022-2023 school year:

“This program has been helpful to me as a new (career switcher) teacher,” shared Lee Dibble, social studies teacher at Hampton High School. “The chance to meet and collaborate with fellow new teachers, as well as the amazing TL team was most impactful to me. I gained knowledge, strategies and resources to help me become a better educator.”

Joan Jordan, teacher librarian at Machen Elementary School said, “These sessions have expanded my realm of teaching. There is so much out there to learn and these sessions have helped me to recognize that we are always learning, and what we learn can impact our teaching.”