Learn to lead leaders: Leadership competencies to promote teacher leadership

Abstract

This article defends the theory, based on literature and international experiences, that educational leadership requires a learning community where teachers act, at the same time, as leaders. The new requests for school demands a top-level leadership, not restricted to those who occupy a formal position. Formal leaders have to encourage teachers to carry out multiple leadership styles, creating conditions and opportunities for professional and organizational development. From an organic and horizontal standpoint, the teacher must be a leader in its own context. That is why a training designed to competency development for learning-centered leadership includes the distribution of leadership among qualified teachers. Creating conditions for teachers' competences development requires a collaborative culture, around a joint educational project, to improve student learning.