DFD - Teacher Leader

Date Adopted: 12 March 2025             

Current Review / Revision: 12 March 2025

Qualifications for Designation as a Teacher Leader—

The District may designate as a Teacher Leader a teacher who:

1.  Has a professional educator license;

2.  Either:

a.   Has an educator evaluation effectiveness rating of effective or highly effective for at least the two years prior to being designated as a teacher leader; or

b.  Has a successful or equivalent rating using the Board of Education approved evaluation system for at least the two years prior to being designated as a teacher leader;

3.  Demonstrates competence in working with adult learners and peers;

4.  Demonstrates:

a.   Consistent leadership;

b.  Focused collaboration;

c.   Distinguished teaching; and

d.  A commitment to ongoing professional growth; and

5.  Is recommended by the building administrator to be designated as a Teacher Leader.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-307-3 (January 11, 2022)

Roles of a Teacher Leader—

Teacher Leaders shall maintain their assignment as a classroom teacher while fulfilling appropriate leadership responsibilities. This leadership may be provided in a school through formally or informally designated responsibilities. A Teacher Leader may perform the following functions:

1.  Professional learning lead, including:

a.   Generally supporting school-based professional learning, or

b.  Serving as a learning designee or facilitator for professional learning activities;

2.  Formally trained and recognized mentor, including:

a.   Modeling effective instructional strategies for other teachers;

b.  Training, supervising, and mentoring:

i.    Student teachers (including providing feedback on demonstration of competencies);

ii.    New teachers; or

iii.    Teachers that supervise student teachers; or

c.   Coaching the development of effective instruction;

3.  Lead or master teacher, including:

a.   Guiding other educators in collecting, understanding, analyzing, and interpreting student-achievement data and using those findings to improve instruction;

b.  Leading efforts to modify or improve curriculum; or

c.   Facilitating and coordinating professional learning communities;

4.  Education policy advocate, including:

a.   Positively contributing to informed decisions made by policy makers; or

b.  Sharing information with colleagues regarding impact of policy on classroom practices;

5.  School outreach lead, including:

a.   Leading specific school improvement initiatives; or

b.  Acting as a liaison for community projects; or

6.  Education ambassador, including:

a.   Networking within and beyond local, state, and national education organizations; or

b.  Serving on task forces, committees, and advisory boards.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-307-4(1)-(3) (January 11, 2022)

Utah Code § 53E-6-902(2) (2024).

Teacher Leader Incentives—

As determined to be appropriate by the Board of Education, designated Teacher Leaders may be given a pay increase, bonus, or other financial incentive or may be given a reduction in the Teacher Leader’s regular classroom workload.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-307-4(4) (January 11, 2022)