ERIC Number: ED408259
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1997
Pages: 43
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Supports and Barriers to Teacher Leadership: Reports of Teacher Leaders.
Zinn, Lynn F.
Three issues guided the study reported here: (1) conditions within the educational context that act as sources of support or barriers to teacher leaders; (2) conditions outside the educational context that act as sources of support or barriers to teacher leaders; and (3) the internal intellectual and psycho-social factors that motivate or impede teacher leaders. A three-stage case study methodology was used with nine peer-nominated teacher leaders in three elementary schools. Recursive data analysis and modification of the categorization of supports and barriers allowed tailoring of interview protocols at each stage. Based on three rounds of interviews and analyses, a matrix was developed categorizing key sources of support and barriers to teacher leadership. Regarding support in the educational context, a key source was a strong network of colleagues and administrator support. Barriers in this context included time and lack of support from teachers and administrators. Outside the educational context, support came mainly from family and friends. The most significant barriers were family and other commitments that compete with leadership roles, and personal health problems. Internal factors were pivotal, either supporting or hindering leadership. Intrapersonal sources of support came from within the teachers themselves but barriers are also internal. Six tables are appended. (Contains 75 references.) (JLS)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Chicago, IL, March 24-28, 1997).