How to Become a Great Teacher Leader: Teacher Leadership Lessons from Professor Flitwick

Copyright: Promotional image from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)

Becoming a teacher leader may be one of your goals. It may be a nightmare. It's okay either way. The benefits of becoming a teacher leader are boundless for you and others.

Teacher leaders benefit students because they practice high-quality pedagogy, and students learn more. They benefit their colleagues because they spread their strategies and positive influence throughout the school, making teaching and learning more effective and enjoyable.

Think about the teacher leaders you knew when you were in school or the ones you work with now. What is it about them that makes them stand out from the crowd? I will admit that some teacher leaders are not the school leaders we want to model ourselves after. But that is the case with any profession. Some people make it to leadership even though they contribute negatively to the profession. However, we want to discuss how to become and remain a positive teacher leader in any school.

For my Harry Potter Fans, today we will discuss the qualities of the half-goblin, half-wizard, Professor Flitwick. For those who know not of J.K. Rowling's goblins or wizards, keep reading because all of this practical advice will still make sense to you!

Professor Flitwick was a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who often blended into the background. He is not as popular as the well-known Professor McGonagall or Snape. Little is said about his class compared to others, and he didn't have a student fanbase like Trelawney or Slughorn, yet he was a powerful teacher leader, and there are many lessons we can learn from Filius Flitwick.

5 Lessons on Teacher Leadership to Gain or Maintain Teacher Leader Status

1. Manage your classroom well.

It should go without saying that teacher leaders should have good classroom management. I didn't say great, but good. I say this because you may struggle, as I have, with classroom management and still be a great leader. However, it is hard for school leaders to promote someone to a leadership position if their classroom management is in the dumps. Other teachers will be puzzled if kids are out of control in your classroom, but you're giving professional learning sessions on x, y, or z. Also, administrators may not view you as a teacher leader if your first resource for classroom management is an office referral. Professor Flitwick, while he did not have the stern disposition of McGonagall or the strict, borderline cruelty of Snape, still managed his classroom well. Students seemed to be more relaxed, but they didn't take over the classroom and impede learning. If we want to gain or maintain leadership status, we must put in place routines and procedures to maintain classroom order. Others will then look to you to take on more responsibilities.

2. You need a positive disposition.

Professor Flitwick carried a positive disposition inside of his classroom and with the other teachers. Here's a quote from the Philosopher's Stone, "Oh, Well Done! Everyone See Here, Miss Granger's Done it!" This type of compliment bodes well when trying to form positive relationships with students or staff. Screenrant.com says this about the tiny little professor, "While Professor Flitwick was known to deal out punishments when needed, he was not overly harsh. Instead, he seemed to focus more on praise than criticism and handed out house points liberally. Even when Fred and George created a swamp in a corridor, Flitwick could only appreciate the fantastic magic that they had demonstrated."

No one wants a leader that only dwells on the negative and always has a word of discouragement to pass along. Trust me. I've had that leader. I, who am not a Pollyannaish person, seemed like Buddy from Elf compared to this leader. They always saw the worst in kids, adults, situations, and the world. These types of school leaders bring the entire mood and atmosphere down for everyone and should not be a teacher leader. No one needs to feel worse when we are already in the hardest profession. Be positive. See the glass half full.

3. Humbly accept leadership roles when offered.

Casual fans of Harry Potter may not know that Professor Flitwick was the leader of the Ravenclaw House. He was very humble about the leadership position afforded to him. In the same way, we should all be humble when we receive a leadership role. Taunting our new powers to every Tom, Dick, and Harry is off-putting, and good administrations will not give you more responsibilities. Who said, "with great power comes great responsibility"? Oh yeah, Spider-Man! I'm really mixing my literary references in this post! But it is true. Be the kind of leader that you want to lead you. Ask for advice and buy-in from the team. Lead with grace and understanding. In other words, people will have problems, and good teacher leaders help them solve those problems without attitudes or undue scolding. You are leading adults, and adults should not be treated like children. Again, I've had the leader who didn't understand this, and not only did the team hate her guts, they would work to sabotage. You ask if I did this??? Of course not... Developing these leadership skills is crucial for fostering team cohesion.

4. Handle your business.

The one thing that a leader does, if nothing else, is lead! Leadership means you not only make decisions but follow through. Even when you need to ask permission, do so with a plan in mind. In other words, I've worked with colleagues that wanted desperately to be in leadership, yet they constantly complained and never (or rarely) had solutions. Therefore, they were never seen as leadership material. I always tried to think of a solution to my problem and implement it, or present my solution and ask for permission and assistance to carry it out. Flitwick is never, to my knowledge, seen nagging the Headmaster or Headmistress. He handled his business, and therefore was trusted. If you want to be a teacher leader, it would be wise for you to work to be seen as a solution-oriented teacher, not a nag. Professor Dumbledore grew quite tired of the constant requests from Professor Trelawney, for example, and think about it, Trelawney never was asked to lead anything. Principals don't want someone on the team who only points out issues; they want people who contribute to solutions. Handling your business also means meeting deadlines. Potential teacher leaders should have their lesson plans in on time, IEP meetings and paperwork submitted on time, and any other routine responsibilities. Again, it's hard justifying piling more on someone's plate if they aren't eating what's already there. These are foundational leadership skills for any aspiring school leader.

5. Teach. Teach. Teach.

Becoming a positive teacher leader isn't about grand gestures or seeking the spotlight, but rather about consistent dedication to your craft, your students, and your colleagues, just like Professor Flitwick quietly demonstrated. By cultivating strong classroom management, maintaining a positive disposition, embracing humility, handling your responsibilities with foresight, and always prioritizing effective teaching, you can make a profound impact. These are the core qualities of teacher leaders that truly make a difference in a school. So, as you reflect on your own journey, consider which of Flitwick's qualities you can cultivate to elevate your influence and hone your leadership skills. What step will you take today to become the teacher leader your school truly needs?