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Becoming a teacher leader: building social capital through gradual release

Pamela Osmond-Johnson (Faculty of Education, University of Regina, Regina, Canada)

Journal of Professional Capital and Community

ISSN: 2056-9548

Article publication date: 4 December 2018

Issue publication date: 8 January 2019

1000

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of a mentored model of gradual release to build social capital and support teachers as they adopt new identities as leaders of professional learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the paper were collected as part of a case study which explored the Provincial Facilitator Community (PFC) in Saskatchewan, Canada as one approach to creating a collaborative culture of teacher-led learning and leadership.

Findings

The findings suggest that becoming a leader of professional learning is a complex process of gaining confidence, building capacity and transitioning into a new professional identity. In the PFC, this process was markedly supported through a structured and intentional system of modeling and peer-mentorship that promoted the development of social capital across the group.

Originality/value

The paper provides new insights around the use of a mentored model of gradual release to create opportunities to develop social capital that, in turn, helped prepare and sustain teachers in adopting new roles as leaders of professional learning.

Keywords

Citation

Osmond-Johnson, P. (2019), "Becoming a teacher leader: building social capital through gradual release", Journal of Professional Capital and Community, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 66-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-05-2018-0016

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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