The Arkansas Leadership Academy’s (ALA) Teacher Leader Program is for those individuals who are currently serving as classroom teachers in Arkansas public schools and are either currently in or aspire to take on leadership roles, where they can lead while remaining in the classroom. (Please note, this program is not designed for those individuals who anticipate leaving the classroom to become administrators in the next few years.)

Dates for the 2023-2024 School Year

Due to increased demand for Teacher Leader Program, we will be offering two sets of dates for participation.

Participants must plan to attend all sessions of Teacher Leader Program for the date option selected. Please check your professional and personal calendars to ensure availability prior to completing this application. Please verify with your administrator that you will be able to participate in all sessions. Session dates are provided below.

A limited number of participants will be selected for each date grouping. Please be sure to indicate in your application that you are available to attend Option A, Option B, or that your schedule is flexible, so we can select your date grouping for you.

Option A:

• Tuesday, September 19, 2023
• Monday, October 2, 2023
• Wednesday, November 15, 2023
• Tuesday, January 9, 2024
• Tuesday-Wednesday, March 5-6, 2024
• Optional Portfolio Work Session: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
• Optional Portfolio Work Session: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Option B:

• Wednesday, September 20, 2023
• Tuesday, October 3, 2023
• Thursday, November 16, 2023
• Wednesday, January 10, 2024
• Thursday-Friday, March 7-8, 2024
• Optional Portfolio Work Session: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
• Optional Portfolio Work Session: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Location:

All sessions will be held at Arkansas Public School Resource Center.

APSRC Training Center

 Victory Building

1401 West Capitol, Suite 375

Little Rock, AR 72201

Expenses:

Travel, Substitutes, and Registration: Schools and/or individual participants are responsible for arranging and funding their travel expenses including lodging, if necessary, and any substitute costs for participants. There are no registration costs to participants for content and/or support materials.

Parking: A parking garage is available on 6th Street, across from the Victory Building. The cost to park is $2 per hour or $6 for all day. Parking fees can be paid through an app or by scanning a QR code in the parking garage. Additionally, there is a limited amount of street parking available at no cost.

Meals: Time will be built into the schedule for each session to allow participants to leave the site and secure lunch. Participants will be responsible for their own lunch expenses at each session. Snacks will be provided.

Application Directions and Next Steps:

This application form must be completed in its entirety and submitted by 11:59 PM on Monday, May 8, 2023, along with a Signed Expectations document, signed by the applicant and the applicant's principal. If all spaces are not filled by May 8, 2023, the application window may remain open.

Because this application is fairly lengthy and this program does not allow you to save and come back, we suggest you download this copy of the application and prepare your answers to longer questions so you can copy and paste them into the online application.

Accepted applicants will be notified by Friday, June 9, 2023, with next steps and additional details.

Complete the Online Teacher Leader Program Application

  Download More Info and a Copy of the TL Application Questions

Download the Expectations Document for Signatures

Purpose and Design

Teacher leadership – defined as “the set of skills demonstrated by teachers who continue to teach students but also have an influence that extends beyond their own classrooms to others within their own school and elsewhere” (Danielson, 2006, p.1) – has been touted as key to retaining excellent teachers, improving the access of high-need students to excellent educators, improving school and student outcomes, and enhancing the professionalization of teaching (Coggins & McGovern, 2014; Cosenza, 2015).

The ALA’s Teacher Leader Program (TLP) will prepare participants for formal and informal teacher leadership roles in their schools, districts, regions, state, and nation that allow them to lead from the classroom.

The TLP will provide 6 days of face-to-face professional learning with assignments to be completed between sessions. These assignments are designed to be job- or role-embedded and will be used by those participants who choose to submit a final portfolio for Lead Professional designation.

Content and Focus

The TLP is organized around seven themes aligned with the Arkansas Teacher Leader Model Standards for Lead Designation:

• collaborating,
• leading,
• understanding,
• learning,
• analyzing,
• reflecting, and
• advocating.

Core learning focuses on three evidence-based areas of study: (1) Collaborative Leadership, (2) Collective Efficacy, and (3) Cultural Competence, each with emphasis on (a) data-driven decision-making, (b) effective instructional practices, and (c) social-emotional learning.

Lead Professional Designation

The ALA’s TLP has been approved by the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as a pathway to Lead Teacher Designation for those participants who choose to pursue this Career Continuum licensure option. Those participants who successfully complete the TLP, have at least three years of experience, have reached the performance level of an Effective Teacher on their most recent summative evaluation in TESS (Teacher Excellence and Support System, 2017, Arkansas Act 295), and can demonstrate proficiency of the Teacher Leader Model Standards through a portfolio assessment, can seek the designation of Lead Professional Educator on their teaching license through the Arkansas Career Continuum offered by DESE.