Build Stronger CTE Programs: How Teacher Leaders Are a Multipurpose Tool

Outline

CONTENT AND ENGAGEMENT:
During this session, participants will gain a protocol for teacher leaders to effectively lead professional learning that meets the needs of all teachers, including those in CTE programs. Session facilitators will share their process for establishing structured teacher leadership roles across all district schools and discuss the initiative's impact, including how it has strengthened instruction in CTE classrooms.

Participants will begin the session by reflecting on how teachers leaders are identified, developed and leveraged in their school or district. They will analyze their teacher leadership practices by considering the following questions:
- What are the characteristics of effective teacher leaders?
- How do teacher leaders support and coach their peers, specifically CTE teachers?
- What resources, tools, and strategies do your teacher leaders need to be successful?

This engagement strategy will allow participants to connect their current practices with the new learning presented in the session.

Session facilitators will model how to plan for instructional leadership teams that build the capacity of teacher leaders to conduct peer observations, plan for weekly job-embedded professional development, and provide ongoing follow-up support for teachers in the classroom. The model will incorporate the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol.
- Identify the need: What is the problem or need identified by the instructional leadership team?
- Obtain new learning: What new learning do the teachers need based on the area of need?
- Develop new learning: How will the teacher leaders implement the new learning to support teachers, especially CTE teachers?
- Apply new learning: When will the teachers use it to shift their practice?
- Evaluate the impact: What data will be collected to evaluate the impact of the new learning?

After the model, presenters will facilitate and guide participants through an interactive and collaborative development process of planning a professional learning meeting led by teacher leaders. Participants will use the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol, as teacher leaders would, to plan a meeting to build the capacity of teachers.

TIME:
- 10 minutes: Overview of structured teacher leadership roles and how teacher leaders engage with CTE teachers and content.
- 5 minutes: Participant reflection and turn-and-talk discussion on how their school or district supports CTE teachers to strengthen their instructional skills.
- 15 minutes: New learning on how to plan and facilitate professional learning meetings to build the capacity of teachers using the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol.
- 5 minutes: Participants turn and discuss how the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol connects to and enhances their current practices to leverage teacher leaders to support CTE teachers in their system.
- 20 minutes: Presenters will facilitate and guide participants through an interactive and collaborative development process of planning a professional learning meeting using the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol.
- 5 minutes: Session closes with questions from the participants.

PROCESS:
We will engage the audience by modeling the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol throughout the presentation. New learning will be presented, followed by a 5-minute turn and talk to deepen participant understanding. Presenters will facilitate and guide participants through an interactive and collaborative development process of planning for a professional learning meeting using the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol, supporting participants with applying the new learning. Participants will identify ways to strengthen their teacher leadership roles using the protocol. Finally, presenters will summarize key learnings and wrap up the session.

Participants will discuss current district practices regarding teacher leaders and their practices for supporting CTE teachers. They will leave the session equipped to better support CTE teachers by leveraging teacher leaders and using the 5 Steps for Effective Learning protocol to strengthen teacher and student outcomes.

Outcomes

After this session, participants will
- Understand how a school district developed teacher leaders to lead school-based professional learning teams that include CTE teachers.
- Recognize how structured teacher leader roles foster collective efficacy and provide critical support for CTE teachers to strengthen their instructional skills.
- Reflect on their current practices to develop teacher leaders and use a protocol that helps teacher leaders facilitate high-impact professional learning.

While teacher leadership is not a new concept, teacher leaders are often underutilized in ways that significantly enhance classroom practices and student learning – especially as it relates to supporting CTE teachers. This session will actively engage participants in analyzing how school leadership teams and teacher collaborative teams provide the structures to improve teacher instructional practices and how the district incorporated CTE teachers in this structure.

Supporting research

Barnett, J. (2024). Unleashing Teacher Leadership: A Toolkit for Ensuring Effective Instruction in Every Classroom. ASCD.

Unleashing Teacher Leadership Study Guide: https://www.niet.org/assets/Study-Guide_-Unleashing-Teacher-Leadership.pdf

NIET. (2025). NIET Research Summary: Examining the Evidence and Impact of NIET’s Initiatives. https://www.niet.org/assets/ResearchAndPolicyResources/2024-25-NIET-Research-Summary.pdf.

ACT Work Ready Communities. (2025). DeSoto Parish, Louisiana. https://www.workreadycommunities.org/LA/031.

NIET. (2018). Unleashing Teacher Leadership: How Formal Teacher Leader Roles Can Improve Instruction. https://www.niet.org/assets/ResearchAndPolicyResources/464376c9ff/unleashing-teacher-leadership.pdf.