Boston Teacher Leadership Certificate
The Boston Teacher Leadership Certificate Program provides BPS teacher leaders with practice-based, graduate credit-bearing courses that strengthen the leadership skills they need to be successful in their roles. The courses are offered by teachers, for teachers. The courses are:
- Using Data
- Shared Leadership
- Supporting Instruction
- Professional Expertise
In the 2012-13 school year, BTLC courses will be open to all BPS teacher leaders who hold instructional leadership roles. We encourage teachers to enroll together with one or more colleagues from their school.
The course registration fee is $150. Participants may choose to enroll through our higher education partners, earning 3 graduate credits from Cambridge College (for an additional fee of $150) or as part of UMass Boston’s new CAGS program in teacher leadership ($500).
Teachers who complete each of four BTLC courses plus role-relevant training will earn the Boston Teacher Leadership Credential, distinguishing them as valuable resources in their schools and the district.
Click here for Spring 2013 registration and schedule information
Core Courses
| Courses | Description |
|---|---|
| Using Data | Participants learn how to access and collect multiple forms of data and build a repertoire of strategies for guiding their teams to understand, analyze and use data in decision-making and to communicate data results in ways that empower community members to envision their role in improvement. |
| Supporting Instruction | Participants gain expertise in how to apply principles of adult learning as they learn and practice strategies for observing teaching, examining student work collaboratively, analyzing instruction and instructional resources, facilitating growth-oriented dialogue, and planning and implementing effective professional learning experiences. |
| Shared Leadership | Participants learn approaches for building unity of vision within a team, managing an effective, collaborative team, facilitating change and understanding the role of individuals and teams within school and district systems. |
| Professional Expertise | Participants build routines to strengthen organizational learning and harness professional expertise within a school, while also building skills to access and use the professional knowledge base of educational research and practice in service of improvement. |
Role-Relevant Training
While the four core courses of the Boston Teacher Leadership Certificate program address a wide range of leadership skills that are important to teacher leadership roles, specific roles also require specialized content knowledge and skills. Role-relevant training is provided by a variety of district offices and partners. Professional learning opportunities related to teachers' leadership roles are also available to BPS teachers via My Learning Plan. In addition, teachers can demonstrate accomplished teaching expertise through successful completion of NBPTS National Board Certification or TakeOne.
Contact relevant departments or check My Learning Plan for more information about role-relevant training opportunities.
The Boston Teacher Leadership Certificate is supported by a five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grant awarded to BPE, the Boston Public Schools, Boston Teacher Residency, UMass Boston, and Wheelock College. Additional support has been provided by the Barr Foundation.