What do you do if your leadership skills as a teacher can help advocate for your students and profession?

You don't have to be in a leadership position in your school to be a leader that drives the school forward. As a teacher, you can often be the voice that pushes change forward.

If our leadership skills as teachers can benefit our students and profession, there are several impactful steps we can take. First, effectively communicate the needs and challenges of our students and colleagues to relevant stakeholders, such as administrators and policymakers. Lead by example through excellence in teaching practices and professionalism. Build strong relationships with colleagues, administrators, parents, and community members to collaborate on addressing issues. Stay informed about educational policies and research to advocate for evidence-based practices. Participate in professional organizations to amplify advocacy efforts and access resources.

If you want to instigate change you will need the support of the schools community. Use that collective voice to make progress for the change you want to see for the betterment of the school.

To build alliances, identify the top few issues you want to advocate for. Ensure that the issue identified resonate with your peer group, parents and others while being the most high impact. Differentiate the messages for these issues in a way that resonates with your audience. For example, the way you message lack of resources to peer teachers would differ from how you message it to parents. Remember to balance both logic and emotion in your pitches to different audiences.

Teachers should definitely encourage students to advocate for themselves on issues that are important to them. This is very validating and empowering for the student, needless to say. Encourage them to articulate their needs in any way, shape, or form. This could be in the form of a speech, op-ed, article, poetry, song, video, poster, you name it. It is also worth encouraging the student to take it to the next level-- perhaps bring it to the principal's attention if it is a school matter, or to the appropriate level of government if it is more of a world issue.

As a teacher and leader of your community encourage your students to advocate for themselves and the changes they want to see for their own benefit. Let them know that their opinions are important and help them to be heard by championing their ideas and efforts.

Some ways that schools engage with parents is through monthly newsletters, curriculum nights, parent-teacher interviews, AGMs, and parent council nights. In which ever medium, always provide contact information should parents want to voice a concern to the principal. If the school has a parent council, this is a great way for parents to advocate not only for their child, but for every child in the school.

The school community extends beyond the students, teachers, and administrators. Parents are a critical part of a school's success. As such we should be engaging them in the change process as well. This will lead to a far more unified voice for change in the school.

In many cases changes to school policy is fundamental to instigating change in the school. If the opportunity to participate in policy decisions jump on it. Being able to drive policy change may seem like a long, involved, process, but it's necessary to foster long-lasting positive change at the school.

If you have strong leadership skills as a teacher, you can leverage them to advocate for your students by speaking up for their needs, championing educational policies that benefit them, and collaborating with stakeholders to create positive change. Additionally, you can use your leadership position to advocate for the teaching profession by promoting its importance, advocating for better resources and support for educators, and sharing best practices with your colleagues.