Wake Up and Lead: Empowering Teacher Leaders

Julianne Lang
Apr 19
3 min read

"Don’t mistake compliance for commitment.”

When I first heard that line at a leadership summit, I nearly choked on my latte. It hit me harder than a Monday morning without coffee. As school leaders, we often ask ourselves: How do we get teachers more involved? How do we grow leaders within our building? The truth is, teacher leadership doesn’t flourish in a culture of control—it brews best in an environment of trust, encouragement, and autonomy.

So today, I’m pouring into one of the most important conversations we can have: empowering teacher leaders.

Morning Motivation: Start with Enthusiasm & Autonomy

Leadership begins with passion. If we want teacher leaders to rise, we must first spark their enthusiasm. That means providing a space where innovation is celebrated, not squashed.

Want to start a new literacy program? Try a mentorship model? Pilot a cross-curricular project? Yes, yes, and yes.

Instead of micromanaging every step, empower teachers to take their ideas, build them out, and own the process. Make sure it aligns with your school's mission, vision and strategic plan, then get out of the way. Give them voice in decision-making and program design. Teacher-led initiatives are far more sustainable and impactful because they’re rooted in authentic energy.

Pro tip: Use action teams or innovation squads that allow teachers to run with an idea, build buy-in, and share results.

Equip, Don’t Control

Empowering teacher leaders means providing resources and support—not hovering with a checklist. Think of it like brewing the perfect cup of coffee. You provide the beans, the filter, and the water—but you don’t stand over the pot second-guessing the machine.

Offer professional development aligned with their passions. Share leadership books, grant opportunities, or conference invites. Provide a budget line for pilot programs. Then step back and let them lead.

📚 Research supports this, too. According to the Wallace Foundation (2013), schools with strong teacher leadership have higher levels of collaboration, innovation, and student achievement.

Incentivize & Elevate

If we want teachers to lead, we must show we value their time and talent. Incentive-based pay and career ladder opportunities are game changers. Create pathways that reward leadership roles such as:

Grade-level or department heads
Instructional coaches
Mentors for new teachers
Coordinators of school initiatives (PBIS, MTSS, SEL, etc.)
Action Team Leaders
Teacher Ambassadors or Community Liaisons

This not only builds internal capacity, it also retains talent—a key factor in school success and culture.

Mentoring & Modeling

Teacher leaders don’t just need a title—they need support and direction. Pair new teacher leaders with veteran mentors. Offer coaching from mentor leaders, but in a collaborative, not evaluative, way.

When leaders model vulnerability, strategic thinking, and a growth mindset, they create a ripple effect of leadership.

As the leader, you set the tone. But empowered teachers multiply the momentum.

Build a Culture of Shared Leadership

True leadership doesn’t live in the principal’s office. It pulses through the hallways, classrooms, and even the coffee lounge. Foster a culture where everyone leads in their lane—and sometimes even crosses over into a new one.

✅ Use a distributed leadership model✅ Let teachers lead PD sessions or book studies✅ Give teachers a say in hiring decisions✅ Include them on school improvement or strategic planning teams

This creates collective ownership, which is far more powerful than compliance.

Your Coffee Break Reflection

Empowering teacher leaders isn’t just a strategy—it’s a mindset. When we invest in our educators, we create a thriving ecosystem of excellence. We become brewers of belief, baristas of bold ideas, and cultivators of confidence.

So tomorrow morning, as you sip that first cup, ask yourself: Am I just leading… or am I empowering?

Because leadership isn’t about doing it all—it’s about lifting others to lead beside you. And that, my friend, is the real jolt of espresso our schools need.

Cited & Brewed Fresh

The Wallace Foundation (2013). The School Principal as Leader: Guiding Schools to Better Teaching and Learning.
York-Barr & Duke (2004). What Do We Know About Teacher Leadership? Review of Educational Research.
Ingersoll, R., & Merrill, L. (2017). A Quarter Century of Changes in the Elementary and Secondary Teaching Force.