Administrators arent the only education professionals who can take on leadership roles Every teacher can be a leaderand this book shows special educators how to choose and navigate their own individual path to educational leadership Author Belva Collins a seasoned educator herself knows that many special education teachers are called on as leaders by default when colleagues turn to them for expertise In this empowering professional development resource she shows special educators how to pursue more intentional leadership roles so they can maximize their impact in pre K12 schools Preservice and inservice teachers will discover eight different paths they can follow to become leaders Making databased decisions and conducting classroom research Effecting schoolwide change Mentoring other teachers and paraprofessionals Conducting professional development and consultations Working effectively with families Supporting students during transitions Advocating for students Connecting with professional organizations that address disabilityrelated concerns For each path to leadership teachers will get detailed guidelines for success grounded in uptodate research and the authors deep understanding of the everyday challenges educators face Throughout the book Voice of a Leader interview excerpts share nuggets of practical wisdom and show how real teachers evolved and triumphed on diverse paths to leadership Based on the successful teacher leadership course Dr Collins developed at the University of Kentucky this forwardthinking book will prepare special educators to make a powerful difference in schools communities and the lives of their students PRACTICAL MATERIALS Chapters include learning objectives definitions of key terms thoughtprovoking reflection questions interview excerpts and followup activities to help teachers delve deeper into each leadership path Full transcripts of interviews with eight teacher leaders are available online