Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy

Elevate your professionalism in the classroom with a network of like-minded educators in an exciting, unique program for teachers and administrators in member school districts. Visit classrooms and learn from partners around the world. Highlight your accomplishments at an annual institute attended by hundreds from across the state.

Why Join the Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy?

The Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy (TLFA) at Sacred Heart University taps into the expertise of Connecticut K-12 classroom teachers and offers them an empowering, collaborative fellowship that builds leadership skills while remaining in the classroom. Simultaneously, TLFA supports administrators in creating a school climate and culture that fosters teacher leadership. The Fellowship assists:

Teachers

...who want to remain in the classroom and have an interest in affecting change beyond their classroom walls to thrive in a supportive environment that allows them to take ownership of the programs, practices, policies and priorities that impact student learning;

Administrators

...who are on the building or district-level to support teacher leaders to create collaborative, creative and innovative school cultures in the service of student learning; and

Networks of Teacher Leaders & Administrators

...to share best practices, programs, policies and priorities across districts to support the profession and student learning.

The Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy is a wonderful program that supports teachers as leaders and brings educators together. The program’s strength is based on the relationships forged among teachers and school leaders. As a school principal, I have benefitted from building relationships with educators from around the state. During the past few years, my school-based team led social and emotional learning (SEL) presentations for the annual institutes. They found it rewarding to have teachers and leaders from other districts want to learn from them about how to implement SEL in their school or district. My school has partnered with SHU for many years and I am especially looking forward to this new partnership with TLFA and SHU.

Benefits of the Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy at Sacred Heart

Some distinctive benefits for members of the TLFA include:

  • Unique partnership between an institution of higher education with a teachers' union and local school districts to support and empower teachers
  • Valuable and relevant professional development experience designed by and for teacher leaders
  • Directed by former Connecticut Commissioner of Education, Betty J. Sternberg, Ph.D.

Learning Outcomes & Career Advancement

The Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy (TLFA) provides a set of experiences that help classroom teachers exercise leadership skills while remaining in the classroom. The Fellowship enables these educators to see what other districts are doing to support teacher leaders and to develop a network of like-minded educators from whom they can learn. The program heightens professionalism of classroom teachers so that they see themselves as leaders in education.

After taking part in the Academy, some teacher leaders may decide to pursue formal education programs that will lead to the Connecticut State Department of Education 092 Intermediate Administration or Supervision certification or the 093 Superintendent of Schools endorsement. Educators who are already administrators may decide to pursue further degree programs to help them advance to other administrative positions.

Participants in the TLFA are equipped with the skills, confidence and pathway to become leaders in their buildings and districts.

Sacred Heart launched the first educational doctorate program in the country that focuses on social, emotional and academic leadership. Betty Sternberg created the TLFA as a community where teachers can take ownership and effect change in their classrooms and beyond. Her leadership and distinction—with the dedication of the inspiring minds at Sacred Heart—are an innovative combination that will provide amazing potential for leadership for all educators that are part of the TLFA.

Join the Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy

School districts register teams of educators to become fellows in the academy. All fellows meet five times per year. They also plan and attend an institute day with break-out sessions. There are also international travel opportunities to see other successful education systems in action, such as those in Canada and Finland.

More Information

Interested in getting involved with the Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy at Sacred Heart? Contact Betty J. Sternberg, TLFA director, at 860-463-5871 or sternbergb@sacredheart.edu or fill out our request information form.

 

Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy Institute
Timothy Walker and Participants
Speaker Timothy Walker
Guest Speaker Peter Gamwell

Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy