Roles of a Teacher Leader

Teacher leadership is when classroom teachers take on formal leadership responsibilities to influence colleagues, improve teaching and learning, and drive school improvement—while still actively teaching. The Utah Teacher Leader Guidebook outlines six main roles for teacher leaders:

1. Professional Learning Lead, who designs and facilitates professional development
2. Formally Trained and Recognized Mentor, who supports novice or pre-service teachers
3. Lead or Master Teacher, who guides teams in curriculum, instruction, and data practices
4. Education Policy Advocate, who informs and engages staff about policy impacts
5. School Outreach Lead, who connects school and community through projects and events
6. Education Ambassador, who represents teacher and student voices in broader networks and initiatives.

These roles allow teachers to grow professionally and positively impact their schools without leaving the classroom. We are excited to offer this leadership opportunity to our first cohort of teacher leaders in Jordan School District.