WCSD recognizes that Teacher Leaders utilize a different set of skills and knowledge leading adults than they use when leading students.  The effective Teacher Leader continuously applies their knowledge and skills in Adult Learning Theory, coaching, mentoring, facilitating professional learning, leading collaborative teams, advocating for equitable practices, and managing resistance that can come from change.  They do this by working alongside their colleagues in a non-supervisory role. Teacher Leaders are continually growing to improve their abilities through professional learning and reflective practice.   

Teacher Leadership Pool (TLP) is changing from an interview process to a prerequisite/competency model.  This change is meant to support aspiring teacher leaders in their skill and knowledge development in working with adults. 

Why?

-Increasing one’s capacity in Teacher Leadership is valued.

-TLP is intended to ensure people have the right skills for the job.

-TLP is not meant to be exclusive, all candidates with the skills and knowledge for the work are encouraged to be in the pool.

-TLP was moving in a competency-based direction beginning 2022-23, we are beginning one year earlier due to legislative changes from the 2021 session.

What is the new process?

Educators who take three courses in teacher leadership within the past five years will be in the TLP upon completion of the three courses and submission of transcripts and a survey. They are then in the pool permanently as long as they remain Effective or higher in annual evaluations. A link to submit transcripts and take a survey (see link below) and candidates may submit at any time, there is no deadline.

Any educator who has not yet fulfilled the three-course requirement or is already in the TLP may apply for a TOSA position.  If a candidate is selected for a TOSA position and is not in the TLP, they will have 3 years and must take 3 courses in Teacher Leadership during this time.  Teacher Leadership courses may be taken during contract time.

A list of courses is available on this website. Educators may also submit courses through the in-service division, such as a book study or take from another agency.  If interested in an in-service course or another agency, please contact for pre-approval to ensure it will satisfy the course requirement.

What if I am already in the Teacher Leadership Pool?

TLP members who are in the pool and have not yet re-qualified will be eligible to re-qualify.  Re-qualification consists of a task that asks candidates to reflect on their leadership work and their goals. Those who have already re-qualified once will be in the TLP permanently as long as they remain Effective or higher in annual evaluations. 

Click here for the schedule of Teacher Leadership Pool Information Sessions. 

Click here to apply to the Teacher Leadership Pool.

Teacher Leadership Courses that satisfy the professional learning requirement:

Building Your Capacity as a Teacher Leader- WCSD

Coaching Conversations Book Study- WCSD

Coaching for Teacher Leaders Summer Institute- WCSD/NWRPDP

Dare to Lead Book Study- NWRPDP

Early Learning Institute- National Education Association 

Foundations of Mentoring- WCSD

Instructional Support Institute “Blue Friday” -WCSD

Leading Collaborative Teams- WCSD/NWRPD

Learning Facilitator Coaching Institute-WCSD

Learning-Focused Relationships- NWRPDP

Master Lead Teacher Program- WCSD/NWRPDP

Observation and Feedback-WCSD

Strategies for Building Capacity Through Effective Teacher Leadership Practices-WCSD

Teachers Leading Change - NWRPDP

Transformational Coaching-WCSD

Teacher Leadership Institute- National Education Association 

NEA courses listed in attachment below

Other courses as applicable, please contact us if you have taken or are interested in a course outside of this list to check that it qualifies.

Upcoming Teacher Leadership Courses through NEA:

Information on asynchronous courses offered in Teacher Leadership through the Nevada Education Association is available here.  These self-paced, free, online courses are rigorous and can be used for Nevada Licensure renewal though do not qualify for WCSD salary advancement.

Upcoming Teacher Leadership Courses in MyPGS:

#14688 Learning-Focused Relationships

This interactive virtual seminar, based on the book Mentoring Matters: A Practical Guide to Learning-focused Relationships by Bruce Wellman and Laura Lipton (2018), explores the important relationship between mentors and those that they support. The sessions develop mentors from simply handholding and advice dispensing to becoming skillful growth agents in a virtual or face-to-face environment. Five two-hour virtual sessions offer practical tools, specific templates, and technical tips for educators who serve as growth agents to increase the effectiveness of professional practice in their organizations. (10 hours Synchronous with 6 hours independent Asynchronous work).

Participants will learn to: 

• Balance the three functions of learning-focused relationships: offering support, creating cognitive challenge, and facilitating professional vision;
• Navigate across four stances on a continuum of interaction from most to least directive;
• Explore specific strategies related to each stance for customizing learning-focused conversations to increase capacity and decrease dependency;
• Apply verbal and non-verbal tools for increasing willingness, confidence and skills in the thinking that drives instructional decision-making and reflection on practice; and
• Facilitate structured conversations that maximize time, invite thinking, and provide a focus on continuous growth.

Offered September 21, 2021-October 14, 2021

#5063 Foundations of Mentoring

Teachers with three years of experience or more will receive training in Foundations of Mentoring as offered through the New Teacher Center of Santa Cruz, California. Teachers will learn about mentor roles, needs of beginning teachers, attitudinal phases of new teacher development, building a trusting relationship and other basics of mentoring a novice or student teacher. Teachers who complete 15 hours of training are eligible to apply as a WCSD Mentor Teacher.

 Offered: 9/23/2021-9/25/2021 and 2/24/2022-2/26/2022

#12601 Observation and Feedback

Topics for this highly interactive course include: types of observation evidence, evidence vs opinion, scripting, observation tools, adult learning theory, the language of data-driven feedback, and the four standards, among others.  The class is built around practice time, watching classroom videos, sharing observation techniques, using the feedback template and conducting planning and reflecting conversations, based upon the four standards of the Teacher Professional Growth System.  The instructors for this course are Consulting Teachers who have considerable experience as instructors and as mentors who observe teachers and give feedback.

Offered: 10/13/2021-11/3/2021 and 4/20/2022- 5/11/2022

#12586 Transformational Coaching I

During this course, participants will define coaching and be able to explain why coaching is an effective initiative for improving student achievement.  Over a decade of research supports the fact that the classroom teacher is the #1 factor in student achievement.  In essence, the more effective the teacher, the greater the student achievement rates.  Participants in this course will examine the correlation between their roles and the professional growth of the classroom teacher.

The course begins with a review of the core beliefs and guiding principles of coaching.  Then, the course defines instructional coaching and provides depth on initial coaching strategies used by new coaches as they develop their role within a school.  This course provides content, modeling segments, discussion and collaboration opportunities, and tools to assist coaches as they support the professional growth of teachers.

Offered: 12/14/2021-1/25/2022

#14754 Book Study - Coaching Conversations (Cheliotes & Reilly)

The course is meant for educators at the beginner to intermediate level of experience with coaching. The course will equip teacher leaders with knowledge and skills in the impact of coaching, committed listening, reflective feedback, coaching strategies, and more.  THe cours can be taken for in-service credit (salary advancement and licensure renewal hours) or during contract time (licensure renewal hours only).  Any group of two or more interested certified employees may submit for their own study group to complete this course.

Offered: Any time

Questions?  Email Marissa McClish