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Ep 194: Level Up Your Leadership as a New Teacher
From New Teacher Talk · Hosted by Elizabeth Wilkins & Anna Quinzio-Zafran
Episode summary
In this episode of New Teacher Talk: Most teachers don't think of themselves as leaders, at least not yet. But according to Bill Curtin, Policy Director for TeachPlus Illinois and former National Board-Certified English teacher, leadership isn't something you earn after decades in the classroom. It's something you're already doing.
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Original publisher description
Most teachers don't think of themselves as leaders, at least not yet. But according to Bill Curtin, Policy Director for TeachPlus Illinois and former National Board-Certified English teacher, leadership isn't something you earn after decades in the classroom. It's something you're already doing. In this episode of New Teacher Talk, Bill makes a compelling case that every teacher is a leader, because effective classroom management demands the exact same skills: clear communication, conflict resolution, vision-setting, team building, and providing actionable feedback. Developing those skills intentionally doesn't just prepare you for future roles, it makes you a better teacher right now. Bill draws on TeachPlus's DICE Role report to shine a light on a serious equity problem in education: leadership opportunities are currently distributed haphazardly, often through informal "shoulder-tapping" that favors those with existing privilege and disadvantages teachers of color and first-generation college graduates. His message is direct. Don’t wait for someone to tap your shoulder. Take charge of your own development. From identifying "connectors" in your school to volunteering for the right committees, seeking mentorship through strategic vulnerability, and developing niche expertise that makes you indispensable, Bill offers a concrete, practical roadmap for new teachers ready to lead, wherever that eventually takes them. He also gets refreshingly honest about what not to do, including a candid story about earning an administration degree only to realize he didn't actually want to be an administrator. To learn more about teacher leadership in Illinois, download: https://teachplus.org/resource/the-dice-roll-illinois-haphazard-teacher-leadership-system-and-how-to-fix-it/ Books mentioned: Leadership and the One-Minute Manager | It's Your Ship by D. Michael Abrashoff | Good to Great and Good to Great for the Social Sector by Jim Collins HASHTAGS #EveryTeacherIsALeader #TeacherLeadership #TeacherLeader #TeachPlus #TeacherTips #NewTeachers #FirstYearTeacher #NewTeacherTalk #TeacherPodcast