<p> Is your district interested in developing or refining teacher leadership roles? Join ESE’s Teacher Leadership Professional Learning Network!</p><p>What is it? ESE’s Teacher Leadership Professional Learning Network (PLN) is an opportunity for districts to engage in a deep partnership with other districts and ESE to develop and/or refine opportunities to recognize and reward effective teachers. ESE will select a group of 6-10 districts to engage over the 2014-15 school year to learn about current practices in teacher leadership, identify opportunities to expand or improve these practices, and brainstorm and tryout potential solutions to common challenges associated with implementing teacher leadership roles. What are the goals and outcomes? The goal of the PLN is to support districts in recognizing and rewarding effective teachers, as required under the evaluation regulations (603 CMR 35.08 (7)). Through engaging a subset of districts focused on teacher leadership, ESE will produce case studies and resources to support all MA districts in recognizing and rewarding effective teachers. Based on the practices and lessons learned through the PLN, ESE will share resources on a newly created Teacher Leadership website. ESE is looking for districts interested in improving or developing the following types of teacher leadership roles/programs:  Induction and Mentoring  Peer Assistance and Review (PAR)  Other Teacher Leadership Structures (this could include coaching models, providing job-embedded professional development, differentiated pay scales, etc.) What are the district benefits for participating in the PLN?  Participating districts will receive a $5,000 stipend to cover the costs of travel expenses, substitutes, and other costs associated with participation.  Districts will be paired together based on their teacher leadership focus (induction and mentoring, PAR, etc.). District pairs will share practices, identify areas of strength, and work together to address areas for further development.  Districts will learn about and implement practices to recognize and reward effective teachers.  Districts will have the opportunity for direct support and feedback from ESE staff. What are the participation requirements?  District is implementing or plans to implement teacher leadership roles during the 2014-15 school year.  A district administrator and a current classroom teacher can commit to representing the district for the duration of the PLN (October 2014-July 2015).  Commitment includes monthly calls with ESE; attending three in-person meetings in Malden (Dates: October 24th 9:00am-4:00pm, February 6th 9:00am-4:00pm (snow date: February 10th); and June 12th 9:00am-12:00pm): presenting at the Educator Evaluation Spring Convening in Marlborough May 27th and 28th; and conducting a webinar “office hour” in July 2015 to share information with other interested districts.  ESE is looking for a range of districts to participate (district type: urban, suburban, rural; district size; stage of implementation, etc.). </p><p>Questions? Email [email protected]. </p>