Question

An elementary school principal believes that one way to enhance the school's educational program is to develop a professional culture in which teacher leadership is expected and encouraged. Which of the following strategies would best help promote the development of such a culture?

Choose an answer
A. increasing teachers' independence in delivering and adapting curricula to meet their students' needs
B. providing teachers with ongoing access to information about legislation and other factors affecting the school
C. encouraging teachers to take on a range of selected administrative tasks and responsibilities
D. supporting teachers' use of collaborative practice in addressing grade-level or schoolwide issues

Answer 1

Supporting teachers' collaborative practice is the best strategy to promote a culture of teacher leadership, as it encourages shared responsibility and leveraging diverse experiences to effectively address multicultural classroom needs.

Step-by-step explanation:

To best help promote the development of a professional culture in which teacher leadership is encouraged, the strategy that stands out is supporting teachers' use of collaborative practice in addressing grade-level or schoolwide issues. Such collaborative approaches align well with the current emphasis on leadership that is sensitive to multiculturalism and diversity in the classroom, as discussed by Cockrell, Placier, Cockrell & Middleton (1999). Collaborative practices encourage communication and shared responsibility, fostering an environment where teachers feel empowered to lead and innovate.

Furthermore, collaboration helps address the lack of multicultural training before teachers reach diverse classrooms. By working together, teachers with different backgrounds and experiences can share insights and develop more effective strategies for communicating with and teaching students from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, thereby challenging the 'color blindness' attitude and promoting better understanding and communication.

Implementing teacher workshops like 'Integrating Positive Cultural Values into Schools' (IPCVS) can also be a way to support teacher leadership by allowing them to connect with and incorporate important cultural values from the community into the educational program, as highlighted by the positive experience of local education officials and the presence of community members such as grandmothers in the education process.