Teaching can often feel like a solitary endeavor. Community and collaboration are essential to our success. In honor of this Middle Level Education Month’s theme, as members of the AMLE Teacher Leaders Committee we would like to “shine a light” on how the committee has contributed to our professional growth and satisfaction and empower others to join us.
The Teacher Leaders Committee (TLC) provides a place for like-minded educators to share their expertise and advocate for the unique needs at the middle level. As shared by member Dustin Johnson, “The committee has brought teachers together to create a climate of trust and support for the common goal of becoming teacher leaders,” highlighting the importance of shared purpose and mutual support.
The committee has impacted its members by fostering growth, collaboration, and confidence in their leadership abilities. Kristen Engle, AMLE 2024 Educator of the Year, shared, “I’ve gained such confidence in who I am and my ability to be a leader within my school,” highlighting the committee’s role in empowering educators to embrace leadership.
Our work with the committee supports us as teacher leaders and solidifies our love of teaching and learning. For Megan Vosk, her involvement has driven personal and professional growth, enabling her to “learn new things that can benefit [her] students.”
While a community of support does not necessarily solve all issues, having a space to connect and share ideas can be a sustaining force. Our committee is a connected group that invites and empowers others in the profession. Carey-Anne Hendershot feels the TLC has equipped her to “leverage [her] voice for change and growth within [her] school,” illustrating how the committee amplifies teacher voices to enact meaningful change.
Additionally, as a nice monetary perk constituent committee members receive a $100 discount on all AMLE live events, including the Institute for Middle-Level Leadership and the Annual Conference.
What is the TLC?
The AMLE Teacher Leaders Committee started in 2022 with the original aim of identifying the “needs and priorities” of teacher leaders. Over the past three years, we have clarified our purpose and become a collaborative organization, as well as a professional network of dedicated teacher leaders.
We work with AMLE staff to identify the needs of middle-grade teachers in leadership roles and recommend actions the association can take to meet the needs of teacher leaders. Our mission is to empower middle-level educators to ensure everyone has the tools and support to excel in their role. We support best practices via professional development and advocate for professionalism and innovation by addressing the needs of colleagues. In addition to supporting other teacher leaders in the AMLE membership, our time on the committee has provided us with a professional learning community and opportunities to grow.
Past Projects
Our committee has written articles, hosted webinars, been guests on the AMLE Walk and Talk podcast, and presented at AMLE conferences all aimed at supporting your journey as a middle-level teacher leader. Explore some of these projects using the links below:
Teacher Leadership
- So You’re a Teacher Leader, Now What?, AMLE 2022 concurrent session
- Secrets for Balancing Teaching and Leading, AMLE 2023 concurrent session
- Inside the Teacher Leader’s Studio: Nurturing Teacher Leaders to Flourish and Thrive, AMLE 2023 panel session
- Teacher Leadership 101: Self-Care for Teachers, webinar
- Teacher Leadership 101: Leading from the Classroom, webinar
- Teacher Leadership 101: Building Partnerships, Building Empathy: Administrators and Teacher Leaders Working Together, webinar
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Empowering Teacher Leadership with Innovative AI, AMLE 2024 concurrent session
- AI Powered Education: Revolutionizing Teaching Practices, AMLE 2024 speed-learning session
Teacher Leaders & Administrators
Fostering Empathy Through Understanding: Listening to the Voices of Administrators and Teacher Leaders, AMLE article series:
- Part 1: “What is the hardest part of your position?”
- Part 2: “What do you wish people knew about your position?”
- Part 3: “How can teacher leaders and administrators work together on creating a ‘Why” and a school vision?”
- Part 4: How can teacher leaders and administrators work together to maintain a strong partnership even when conflict arises?
- Part 5: How do you show empathy in your position?
- Part 6: Final Thoughts
Let’s Connect
You are part of a community of more than 35,000 members who live and breathe all things middle grades. If you would like to connect with our network of teacher-leaders, we encourage you to complete our new AMLE member networking contact form with a specific question, challenge, or need. We look forward to hearing from you and offering you guidance, insight, and advice to reach our mission of ensuring everyone has the tools and support to excel in their role.
For more information, check out our overview poster, video 1 and video 2 here. You can also Learn more about AMLE’s constituent committees and other opportunities to get involved.