Who are the influential colleagues in your school? Why are they influential? We all know teachers who everyone admired as role models, supportive colleagues, and who were always ready to learn more. This study used social network theory to identify those teachers that are sought out by peers for professional advice followed by surveys and interviews to identify why these faculty members were so influential. What the study found is that teacher influencers have transformational qualities that are available to any teacher. These leadership qualities are described in the Model of Transformational Teacher Influence.For school principals, understanding your school's network is critical to the development of culture, collaboration, and successful innovation and sustainability of change. For pre-service teacher preparation programs, this research and model would support novice teachers as they embark on building relationships in their first years of teaching. For mid-career and veteran teachers who seek to contribute to their school-communities, the study describes with clarity how influence occurs among faculty opening spaces for all teachers to lead.

Deborah Shea is the director of Educational Leadership Programs at the College of St. Rose.