About Leadership Teacher - Professional Development Programs for Teachers

Leadership Teacher I
Leadership Teacher II
Leadership Teacher III
Leadership Teacher IV


Leadership Teacher I (LT I)—Real-World Workshops
Sample LT I Program Schedule

Who is eligible to apply?
K-12 educators are eligible to apply to this yearlong program. Participants meet for a team-building retreat in late October/early November and then one day a month from November through May at industry sites that demonstrate real-world applications of specific curriculum areas. Click here for LT I Sample Program Schedule.

How does the LT I program work?
Leadership Teacher I begins with a team building retreat in late October/early November. Run by experienced facilitators, the opening retreat includes goal setting, reflection, and leadership development. The retreat is followed by six daylong sessions from November through April each focusing on a specific curriculum area. The final session day in May is free attendance to the regional Real World Education Conference held at Southern NH University annually. The program concludes with a facilitated reflection workshop after the conference and then a graduation ceremony and reception for all LT participants.

The monthly session days from November through April are hosted by various businesses that model real-world applications of the curriculum area featured for the day. These on-site session days combine keynote business speakers, panel discussions, tours of host businesses, hands-on activities, small group breakout sessions, simulations, and the opportunity to network with corporate leaders and employees from various industry sectors. Teacher participants are challenged to integrate real-world information into activities they can take back to their classrooms, schools, or school districts. Teachers also present a best practice during the year and share an educational article with the class that has inspired them or challenged them in some way.

LT I Session Day Objectives
Session I: To provide an understanding of the program; to encourage participants to reflect on leadership qualities; to explore the fundamentals of group dynamics; to enable participants to develop their individual leadership goals within their classroom, school or school district; to provide time and activities for networking and team building.


Sessions II-VII: To network with business and corporate leaders; to gain insight about skills graduates need to be competitive in the business world; to increase awareness of career opportunities in various industry; to learn about cutting-edge practices and technologies in the business world; to share best practices with fellow educators; to explore educational issues in a team-focused environment; to establish communication and networking channels among the K-12 educators; to build real-world resources to enrich curriculum.


Session VIII: To attend the Real World Education Conference and join educators and businesses from around the region to discuss and explore how innovative real world partnerships and curriculum can improve educational outcomes; to reflect on and evaluate the program year’s experiences; to develop an action plan with specific leadership goals for the upcoming school year; to explore ways to maintain and grow networking channels developed during the year.

LT I Sample Program Schedule

Session I: Kickoff Retreat—Late October/Early November
Session II: Mathematics/Engineering—November
Session III: Technology/Innovation—December
Session IV: History/Social Studies—January
Session V: Science/Biotechnology—February
Session VI: The Arts—March
Session VII: English/Communication—April
Session VIII: Real World Education Conference & Graduation—May

(Note: Workshops in November-April meet at curriculum-relevant industry sites and run from 8:00 am-3:00 pm)

How much does LT I cost?

Districts sending teams of teachers have reported significant district benefits to this professional development strategy. To support districts in sending teams of teachers from each level--elementary, middle, and high school--we now offer the following tuition price break: $700/teacher for one teacher; $600/teacher for two teachers; $500/teacher for 3 or more teachers.

Can I earn graduate credits?

Teachers may earn 6 pre-Masters or post-Masters graduate credits from Plymouth State University upon completion of this program and its coursework for a substantially reduced cost. (Note: After applying and being accepted into the Leadership Teacher I program, participants interested in earning graduate credits should request the PSU Graduate Registration Form for LT I graduate credits from Leadership Teacher. Completed forms should be sent, along with payment for the credits, directly to PSU.)

What is expected of LT I participants?

In addition to the attending monthly session days, participants also have selected reading assignments throughout the year and are required to share one best practice of their choosing, which we feature on our Web site in the Teacher’s Toolbox, and one educational article of interest to them. Participants are encouraged to remain in contact with one another between session days via threaded discussion groups on our Web site and to make district and building presentations throughout the year to share their experience in the program.


Leadership Teacher II (LT II)—Design and Implementation Seminar
(Prerequisite: LT I)
Sample LT II Program Schedule

Who is eligible to apply?
Graduates of LT I are eligible to participate in LT II’s Design and Implementation Seminar. This course promotes the ongoing development of real-world enrichment curriculum in response to participants’ experiences in LT I.

How does the LT II program work?
Participants design and implement a real-world-based independent study that involves partnering with industry to continue to build bridges between classroom learning and real-world experiences. Projects can be designed for a school district, a school, or a classroom and may be student-focused or faculty-focused. Projects may also be web-based.

Past project ideas include: a series of real-world workshops for teachers, a series of hands-on presentations by local businesses, the construction of a career-based Web site, the development of real-world enrichment curriculum for students.

LT II meets five times during the year to allow program participants to collaborate, brainstorm, and share feedback and evaluative outcomes about individual projects. Participants work independently throughout the year designing and implementing their projects, but are encouraged to remain in contact with one another via threaded discussion groups on our Web site.

LT II Session Day Objectives
Session I: To brainstorm, receive group feedback, work on project design, and establish realistic goals, a clear framework, and a specific timeline for your project.
Session II-III: To reconnect as a group, to brainstorm, receive group feedback, and share project developments as you continue to work on your project.
Session IV: To reconnect as a group, to brainstorm, receive group feedback, and share project developments as you continue to work on your project. Also, to review effective PowerPoint strategies and presentation skills.
Session V: To present your project, with background information and appropriate handouts, and to share project outcomes and evaluative feedback. All projects will be distributed in hard copy to participating school districts and may be published on our Web site.

Program Schedule LT II—Design and Implementation Seminar
(Prerequisite: LT I)
Session I—October—Weekday, 9am-3pm
Session II—November—4-6pm
Session III—January—4pm-6pm
Session IV—March—4pm-8pm
Session V—May—Weekday, 9am-3pm

What is expected of LT II participants?
In addition to attending the 5 meeting sessions during the school year, participants are expected to work primarily independently designing and implementing their projects. Threaded discussion groups on our Web site allow participants to remain in contact with one another between session days and to share and receive feedback on the progress of their projects.

How much does the LT II program cost?

Program Tuition Tuition for Leadership Teacher II-Design and Implementation Seminar for districts is $300/teacher for one teacher or $275/teacher for 2 or more teachers.

Can I earn graduate credits?

Teachers may earn 6 pre-Masters or post-Masters graduate credits from Plymouth State University upon completion of this program and its coursework for a substantially reduced cost. (Note: After applying and being accepted into the Leadership Teacher II program, participants interested in earning graduate credits should request the PSU Graduate Registration Form for LT II graduate credits from Leadership Teacher. Completed forms should be sent, along with payment for the credits, directly to PSU.)


Leadership Teacher III (LT III): Real World Education Conference Planning Committee
(Prerequisite: LTI and LT II)

Who is eligible to apply?
Graduates of LT II are eligible to participate in LT III’s Real World Education Conference Planning Committee. This course promotes the ongoing development of real-world classroom connections in response to participants’ experiences in LT I & II.

How does the LT III program work?

Leadership Teacher III—Real World Education Conference Planning Committee provides teacher participants with the opportunity to use the knowledge and networking resources and design and implementation skills gained from participation in Leadership Teacher I—Real-World Workshops and LT II—Design & Implementation Seminar to plan Leadership Teacher’s annual Real World Education Conference in May.

What is expected of LT III participants?

In addition to regular after school meetings throughout the year, program participants will remain in touch via threaded discussion groups on our website and through Microsoft’s Project Management Software as they develop, plan and hold the Real World Education Conference. The class will meet throughout the year, largely after school, but participants are expected to attend the Real World Education Conference in May.

How much does LT III cost?

Program Tuition for Leadership Teacher III-Real World Teaching Conference Planning Committee is $300/teacher for one teacher from a district or $275/teacher for 2 or more teachers from a district.

Can I earn graduate credits?

Teachers may earn 6 pre-Masters or post-Masters graduate credits from Plymouth State University upon completion of this program and its coursework for a substantially reduced cost. (Note: After applying to the Leadership Teacher III program, participants interested in earning graduate credits should request the PSU Graduate Registration Form for LT III graduate credits. Completed forms should be sent, along with payment for the credits, directly to PSU.)


Leadership Teacher IV (LT IV): LT Alumni Planning and Advisory Board
(Prerequisite: LTI, LT II, and LT III)

Who is eligible to apply?

Graduates of LT III are eligible to join LT's Alumni Planning and Advisory Board. The Advisory Board promotes the ongoing development of real-world classroom connections in response to participants’ experiences in LT I, II & LT III and challenges participants to explore leadership roles in maintaining and growing networking channels developed during LT I-III that will continue to support and raise awareness around real-world based educational innovation. LT graduates interested in joining LT's Advisory Board should contact LT directly.

How does the LT IV program work?

Leadership Teacher IV—Alumni Planning and Advisory Board provides teacher participants with the opportunity to use the knowledge and networking resources and design and implementation and leadership skills gained from participation in Leadership Teacher I—Real-World Workshops, LT II—Design & Implementation Seminar, and LT III--Real World Education Conference Planning Committee, to:

What is expected of LT IV participants?

In addition to attending regular after school meetings throughout the year, program participants will remain in touch via threaded discussion groups on our website as they assist in coordinating LT III and in developing, planning and administering LT alumni opportunities and LT specialty programs. The LT Advisory Board will meet throughout the year, largely after school, but participants are expected to attend a daylong planning meeting in the fall and the Real World Education Conference in May.

How much does LT IV cost?

There is no cost for participation in LT IV.

Can I earn graduate credits?

Teachers may earn 3-6 pre-Masters or post-Masters graduate credits from Plymouth State University upon completion of this program and its coursework for a substantially reduced cost. (Note: After applying to the Leadership Teacher IV program, participants interested in earning graduate credits should request the PSU Graduate Registration Form for LT IV graduate credits. Completed forms should be sent, along with payment for the credits, directly to PSU.)