Teacher Leadership Through Arts Education: Building Skills for the Future
When advocating for the essential role arts education plays in our students lives, I am often asked the question “Will I really be able to teach all this in the real classroom? What if I don’t have the support of my administration, staff or the parents?” I often turn to an article I read by Jane Cera in 2013. Her article Teacher Leadership in Art Education Preparation states:
Teaching art education students about teacher leadership requires teach-
ing about the culture of schools, school reform efforts, professionalization, and empowering teachers. We can do all of this through a pedagogy that utilizes an emphasis on the real world of schools and their political complexities, including institutionalized resistance to change, along with strategies for effectively dealing with that resistance.
Our roles as Arts Educators is so much more then teaching a technique, we are responsible for fostering creative growth, problem solving and above all to help those around us see what is possible. To make the connections they believe cannot be made and to do it with the passion that brought us to our education profession.
For Jane’s full article click: Teacher leadership in Arts Education
Teacher Leadership Through Arts Education: Building Skills for the Future
Teacher leadership in arts education goes beyond delivering lessons—it involves guiding curriculum development, mentoring colleagues, advocating for arts programs, and modeling best practices in creative thinking and collaboration. In secondary schools, arts teachers who exercise leadership play a critical role in shaping a culture that values creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. By fostering environments where students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and reflect, teacher leaders help learners develop transferable skills that are highly valued in today’s workforce.
Students engaged in arts education under strong teacher leadership gain:
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Creative and Critical Thinking: Opportunities to analyze, interpret, and create art teach students to approach problems from multiple perspectives—a key skill in industries ranging from design and technology to marketing and entrepreneurship.
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Collaboration and Communication: Group projects, performances, and critiques help students work effectively in teams, communicate ideas clearly, and give and receive constructive feedback.
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Adaptability and Innovation: Arts education encourages experimentation and risk-taking, helping students adapt to rapidly changing work environments and think innovatively.
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Cultural and Emotional Intelligence: Exposure to diverse artistic perspectives enhances empathy, cultural awareness, and emotional intelligence, skills increasingly valued in globalized workplaces.
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Project Management and Responsibility: Long-term creative projects teach planning, time management, and accountability—practical skills directly applicable to professional settings.
By combining teacher leadership and arts education, secondary schools not only cultivate artistic talent but also prepare students for the workforce by equipping them with the cognitive, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills that employers consistently seek. Teacher leaders in the arts act as mentors and role models, demonstrating how creativity and strategic thinking can be applied both in school and in future careers.
When advocating for the essential role arts education plays in our students lives, I am often asked the question “Will I really be able to teach all this in the real classroom? What if I don’t have the support of my administration, staff or the parents?”
Our roles as Arts Educators is so much more then teaching a technique, we are responsible for fostering creative growth, problem solving and above all to help those around us see what is possible. To make the connections they believe cannot be made and to do it with the passion that brought us to our education profession.
Embracing Your Role as an Arts Educator
When advocating for the essential role arts education plays in students’ lives, it’s natural to wonder, “Will I really be able to teach all of this in a real classroom? What if I don’t have the support of my administration, colleagues, or parents?” These are valid questions, but they also point to a deeper truth: the work we do as Arts Educators is about far more than techniques, lessons, or curricula.
Our responsibility is to ignite curiosity, nurture creative growth, and cultivate problem-solving skills. We guide students to see beyond what is immediately visible, to imagine possibilities they never thought they could reach, and to develop confidence in their own ideas. In doing so, we also inspire our colleagues, families, and communities to recognize the transformative power of the arts.
Being an Arts Educator means embracing resilience and advocacy. There will be challenges—limited resources, rigid schedules, or differing priorities—but the impact of our work is far-reaching. By modeling passion, persistence, and creativity, we demonstrate the value of the arts not only as a subject but as a way of thinking, seeing, and living.
Leadership in the arts comes not from titles, but from action. Every classroom you shape, every project you guide, and every student you empower becomes a testament to what is possible when imagination and learning intersect. Our role is to create spaces where innovation thrives, where connections are made, and where students learn not just content, but how to envision and pursue their own possibilities.
Remember: your influence extends beyond the walls of your classroom. You are a visionary, a guide, and a catalyst. The passion that drew you to this profession is the same passion that will inspire generations to come.