Developing teacher leadership, advocacy, and networking

What is a Teacher Forum?

The early successes of the South Carolina Teacher Forum resulted in the formation of local District Teacher Forums which have applied techniques and structures learned at the South Carolina Teacher Forum meetings to district or county education issues and policies. District Teacher Forums are voluntary, non-partisan groups of exemplary teachers, whose core membership is made up of Campus Teachers of the Year, joined together to develop new skills, exercising leadership and self-direction, and exploring collaboratively education policy issues. The forum operates as a cohort, a group that meets multiple times during the year with a shared purpose of learning and serving. The District Teacher Forum aims to develop teacher leadership. The organizational structure of each District Teacher Forum may vary slightly according to the needs and desires of the teachers making it up. However, each Forum agrees to continue the positive and professional spirit of the State Teacher Forum. 

Starting a District Teacher Forum: Lessons Learned in South Carolina

Things That Need to Take Place

There are a number of actions required for starting a forum. The sequence in which these steps occur will depend upon you and your particular local situation. These are provided as guidance; feel free to work within the context of your individual situation. As a reminder, the Teacher Forum is designed to develop leadership skills in your district's Teachers of the Year.