It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do: we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”

Jobs, 2011

OVERVIEW OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 4: EMPOWERING

When teachers have a voice and their insights are considered in decision making, the result is better outcomes for students (Horizontal Education, 2018). Teacher empowerment is a process by which teachers individually and collectively trust they can master and have control over issues that concern them (Kirk, Lewis, Brown, Daribo, Scott & Park, 2017). According to the New Teacher Center, schools with the highest levels of instructional and teacher leadership rank 10 percentile points higher in both math and language arts achievement on state tests compared to schools with the lowest levels (Ingersoll, Dougherty, Sirinides, 2017).

Teacher empowerment can take many forms. It may mean allowing teachers more decision making about instruction and assessment in their classrooms, leadership tasks that are led by teachers, and/or shared leadership in which key leadership decisions are made by a group of stakeholders that includes teachers. (Horizontal Education, 2018). The process of teacher empowerment keeps teachers engaged and makes them believe that what they do matters beyond their classroom.

Essential Function 4 focuses on two key strategies leaders can use to help teachers feel empowered. By creating supportive relationships and focusing on continuous improvement through instructional leadership, educational leaders build a supportive environment that empowers educators.


Essential Function 4: Leadership empowers educators at all levels to active engagement in continuous improvement and collective responsibility for student growth

Leadership builds a supportive environment by meeting all of the criteria below.

  • Establishment of district-wide goals that address the needs of all students
  • Selection, ongoing training, and implementation of evidence-based methods aligned with the shared district focus
  • Use of data at all levels for the purpose of establishing and addressing priority areas of emphasis
  • Design and support for a system of School-Based Implementation Coaching

Leadership ensures that all of the following key components are used and supported across the district.

  • Collaborative Teams
  • Common Formative Assessment
  • Data-Based Decision Making
  • Developing Assessment Capable Learners with Feedback
  • Metacognition

Download the Practice Profile for Leadership for Effective Implementation of District-Wide Evidence-Based Practices


Reflective Questions

What are ways you currently support teacher empowerment?

What is the current reality in your district in relation to District Continuous Improvement?

What are your district’s strengths? Where are there opportunities for growth?

Coaching Companion

Online Article: Six ways you can empower teachers to lead. White, L. (2016, Jan. 4).