Posted on March 25th, 2025 in Blog, Education

How to Develop Teacher Leadership Skills

Educators who aim to set the standard for excellence need skills that allow them to provide direction and guidance inside the classroom and beyond. These teacher leaders — who influence education by mentoring other educators, developing district curriculum, and more — rely on skills such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and teamwork to make their impact on student learning.

Teacher leadership skills are vital for educators who want to advance their careers by setting an example through their classroom instruction or by guiding others in education initiatives. These skills are usually a key focus of education programs, particularly those that provide graduate degrees like the Master of Education (MEd).

What Is Teacher Leadership?

Teacher leaders are educators who contribute to their schools and districts, as well as education in general, by continuously looking for ways to have a greater impact on student learning. They work with teachers and other school staff to enhance instructional practices and improve curriculum. While these educators generally have more informal leadership roles than those with administrative titles, they have some important responsibilities.

Their duties and responsibilities could include the following:

Designing school or district curricula
Leading professional associations
Serving in education research and data analysis roles
Advocating for schools and their students
Facilitating professional development
Introducing schoolwide and districtwide instructional initiatives
Serving on professional standards boards

Some teacher leaders take on these roles in addition to their classroom duties, while others split that work with class time or temporarily pause those responsibilities.

Required Skills for Teacher Leadership

Taking on the responsibilities of a teacher leader requires some key skills necessary not only for providing outstanding instruction but also for guiding the work of others. Teacher leadership skills include the following:

Adaptability: To be ready to meet students’ and schools’ frequently changing needs
Critical thinking: To make the high-level decisions required for activities such as developing teaching strategies and guiding instructional teams
Emotional intelligence: To show compassion and empathy when performing duties such as teaching colleagues new instructional techniques or evaluating the performance of others
Listening: To improve instruction by fostering understanding between the teacher leader and those they’re collaborating with
Organization: To effectively maintain schedules, document standards and performance, and create and track lesson plans
Patience: To guide others through the process of learning new strategies and processes
Teamwork: To collaborate with other educators as a mentor or coach

5 Ways to Develop Teacher Leadership Skills

Pursuing a teaching career requires specific steps. Becoming a teacher in Oregon, for example, requires earning an undergraduate degree, completing a teacher preparation program, and obtaining certification and licensing.

The process of gaining the necessary skills for teacher leadership roles can include practical experiences, such as volunteering to mentor new educators or setting instructional team goals. It can also include seeking additional education and training, such as an MEd degree.

Here are five ways to develop teacher leadership skills.

1. Solicit Feedback

Seeking constructive criticism from fellow educators for instructional and leadership performance can help teachers strengthen the adaptability and teamwork they’ll need to guide others in their classroom responsibilities. Additionally, working with others to improve their work can be a helpful exercise for finding and promoting best practices in education.

2. Ask Questions

Leadership requires listening to others and learning from their ideas and suggestions. Teachers can strengthen their ability to think critically by asking questions and seeking input — actively participating in meetings, for example — and acting on the input they receive in those discussions.

3. Set Goals

Teachers who want to become leaders can set goals for themselves and their instructional teams and work with other teachers to reach those goals. This practice can help them develop their skills in organization and teamwork.

4. Mentor Others

By offering to mentor teachers new to the profession or school, educators can establish the emotional intelligence and patience that collaborative work often requires. Additionally, they’ll reinforce the value of the effective instructional and administrative practices used in the classroom.

5. Commit to Continuing Education

Professional development, including pursuit of a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or an MEd degree, is important when renewing or upgrading a teaching license. However, it can also help educators prepare to become teacher leaders. An MEd degree, for example, combines advanced training on instructional practices with a focus on developing teacher leadership skills.

Benefits of Earning a Master of Education Degree

The emphasis on teacher leadership skills is just one of the benefits of earning an MEd degree. Students in these programs typically learn about new instructional theories and strategies as well as how to guide others in improving education. Below are other reasons for pursuing an MEd degree.

Licensing Requirements

Master’s degree work can help teachers qualify for licensing renewal and advancement.

In Oregon, for example, upgrading a teaching license to the professional level requires an advanced teaching degree, such as an MEd. The knowledge and skills that teachers in these master’s degree programs gain can also help Oregon teachers qualify for the state’s teacher leader license, which recognizes outstanding leadership and advancement of student learning.

Endorsement Options

Depending on the MEd program, students may have opportunities to focus some of their degree work on courses that prepare them to seek endorsements in specific types of instruction, such as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), special education, or reading intervention.

These endorsements can open the door to additional career opportunities that align with those endorsements, including specialized leadership positions, such as special education teacher or reading interventionist.

Advancement Opportunities

Holding a master’s degree can help those seeking teacher leadership roles stand out. The education that MEd programs generally provide emphasizes the instructional knowledge and leadership skills — and preparation for advanced licensing — that are attractive to those recruiting and hiring teacher leaders.

Earning Potential

Depending on where they work, teachers with a master’s degree may qualify for higher pay than teachers with only a bachelor’s degree.

Additionally, teachers with an MEd degree can pursue specialized positions that may provide them with a salary increase. Instructional coordinators and special education teachers, for example, had median annual salaries of $74,620 and $65,910, respectively, according to May 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual salary for all professions the BLS tracks was $48,060.

Flexible Options

Choosing an online and accelerated MEd program offers additional benefits for those already teaching. These programs allow students to build on their educational knowledge and skills while also taking advantage of the flexibility that can make managing work and other commitments along with degree work easier.

Strengthen Your Teacher Leadership Skills With an MEd

If you’re ready to build the skills that can help you succeed as a teacher leader, explore Warner Pacific University Online’s Master of Education degree program.

The program offers the benefits of an MEd degree in a flexible, online format designed for licensed teachers. With each course requiring just six weeks, teachers can complete this advanced education and training in as little as 18 months and learn in a cohort model that encourages personal connection with peers. WPU Online also offers a Master of Arts in Teaching program for individuals seeking preliminary teaching licensure.

Discover how WPU Online’s degree programs can help you gain the instructional expertise and teacher leadership skills to pursue your career goals.

Sources:
Indeed Career Guide, Teacher Leadership: A Definitive Guide
National Education Association, Encouraging Leadership at All Career Phases
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, Teacher Leader Licensure
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, Upgrading to Professional
TeachersConnect, Teacher Leaders and Teacher Leadership: Redefining Excellence in Education
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Instructional Coordinators
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Special Education Teachers