Term
Summer 2019
Capstone
Thesis
Degree Name
MALED
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Michelle Benegas
Secondary Advisor/Reader One
Amy Stolpestad
Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two
Jenny Leroux
Abstract
Due to rising numbers of English Learners (ELs) nationwide, mainstream teachers are increasingly called upon to meet the needs of their ELs without adequate preparation to do so (Correll, 2016). In an effort to address these needs, the English Learners in the Mainstream (ELM) Project trains English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers to assume a leadership role in their buildings. Through a model of peer instructional coaching, ESL teachers provide professional development for their mainstream colleagues. The goal of this study was to answer the following questions:
1) After being trained as teacher leaders, do ESL teachers experience a shift in their professional role? If yes, how?
2) After being trained as teacher leaders, do ESL teachers experience a shift in their professional identity? If yes, how?
This qualitative study used a survey, the transcripts of two focus groups and three interviews with ESL teacher leaders to collect data. The data suggest that ESL teacher leaders successfully assume the role of professional development facilitator but assume the role of one-on-one coach with varying levels of comfort. The data also indicate that when ESL teachers are positioned as leaders, they identify as professionals and experience an increase in collaboration with their colleagues. The findings have implications for the field of teacher leadership related to work with diverse learners, an under-research area of study. The findings also suggest the need for ESL teachers to receive professional development that supports leadership.
Research Methodology
Focus Group, Interview, Survey (attitude scale, opinion, questionnaire)
Keywords
ESL/ ELLs, Leadership, Staff Development, Teachers/ Teaching
Recommended Citation
Benson, Madeline, "The Roles And Identities Of English As A Second Language Teacher Leaders" (2019). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 4462.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/4462
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations