Fostering Teacher Leadership
The Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy (TLFA) is a yearlong fellowship designed to help educators grow as leaders, inspire meaningful change, and strengthen their school communities - all while continuing to make an impact in the classroom.
Recognizing that teacher leadership can take many forms, the goal of TFLA is to help educators develop leadership skills that are meaningful to their own goals, responsive to their students and schools, and transferable across their broader school communities. Through engaging workshops and collaborative learning, participants explore ways to become agents of change, foster innovation among colleagues, and expand their influence beyond the classroom.
Throughout the fellowship, educators are encouraged to reflect on their leadership journey, put new ideas into practice, and share the growth and impact of their leadership with others.
2026-2027 Workshop Schedule:
- Thriving in Teaching: Wellness, Resilience & Leadership (Oct 1, 2026)
- Cultivating Teacher Agency and Leadership (Nov 5, 2026)
- Vision of Durable Skills from Kindergarten to Graduation (Dec 3, 2026)
- Preparing Students for the Jobs of the Future/Career-Connected (Feb 4, 2027)
- Designing Learning Students Want to Participate In - Project-Based Learning (Mar 4, 2027)
- Teaching & Learning in the Age of AI (Apr 1, 2027)
Program Costs:
Workshops are held from 4:00 ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.“6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, October through April (except January). Educators may participate in person or virtually and can choose how many workshops they would like to attend.
| Choose Your Level | Investment | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Workshop | $125 per workshop | One workshop of your choice |
| 2 ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.“5 Workshops | $100 per workshop | Save $25 on every workshop |
| All 6 Workshops | $600 for ALL workshops PLUS Teacher Leader Forum! | Six workshops + FREE conference ticket ($125 value) |
NOTE: Enter TLFA20 at checkout for discounted pricing.
The Complete Teacher Leader Experience ($600)
Get the full six-workshop TLFA experience PLUS a FREE ticket to the Teacher Leader Forum ($125) for $600!
- $875 total cost of all sessions and Teacher Leader Forum →
- Purchase $600 bundle price PLUS conference ticket → $275 in savings!
°Õ³ó²¹³Ù ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.™s six leadership workshops + a full-day teacher leadership conference - all designed to support your growth as a teacher leader throughout the year.
All workshops may be attended in person or virtually.
The Teacher Leader Fellowship Academy (TLFA) is proud to celebrate its eleventh year of empowering educators to lead, innovate, and create meaningful change in their schools and communities. Founded and co-directed by Dr. Betty J. Sternberg, TLFA has grown from her vision for developing teacher leaders into a dynamic fellowship that connects educators, inspires new thinking, and helps participants expand their impact beyond the classroom.
Today, Dr. Sternberg is joined by Brian Betesh, the 2026 Connecticut Teacher of the Year, as Co-Director. A sixth-grade Social Studies teacher at Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury for more than 20 years, Brian brings a passion for real-world learning, innovative projects, and experiences that extend beyond classroom walls.
Together, Betty and Brian bring decades of educational leadership, classroom experience, and a shared commitment to empowering educators to become leaders and changemakers.
TLFA is offered through ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.™s Office of Workforce & Lifelong Learning in partnership with the College of Education.
Mission: ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.¯To tap into the expertise of classroom teachers and provide an empowering, collaborative fellowship that builds leadership skills without leaving the classroom
Program Highlights
- 11 years strong - Celebrating its 11th anniversary, TLFA is an established, education-school-backed fellowship, not a one-off workshop series
- Co-Led by Two Distinguished Education Leaders - Founded and co-led by Dr. Betty J. Sternberg, Connecticut ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.™s first woman Commissioner of Education (2003), and Brian Betesh, 2026 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Together, they bring state-level education leadership, classroom experience, and a shared commitment to developing teacher leaders.
- Designed with SCSU's College of Education - Offered in direct partnership with ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú's College of Education
- A flexible fellowship - Attend in person or virtually; choose your own level of participation
- Timely, relevant curriculum - The 2026 ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.“27 topics span teacher retention, teacher agency, durable skills, career-connected learning, project-based learning, and AI in education
- Earn a credential - Participants receive a certified digital badge and certification upon completion
- Built-in community - Online classroom with an active message board (via Blackboard) keeps the cohort connected between sessions
- Scalable investment - Save up to $275 by signing up for all six sessions and the spring leadership conference.
- No leadership title required - Designed for teachers at any stage of their leadership journey
- District-friendly - Supports recruitment and retention of quality educators
- For Teachers:
- Build leadership confidence and skills
- Learn to design and lead a project with meaningful impact
- Collaborate with fellow educators across different districts
- Earn a certified digital badge from SCSU's OWLL and the College of Education
- Flexibility to attend in person or virtually, and choose how many of the 6 workshops to attend
- Ongoing connection through an online classroom/message board on Blackboard
- For Administrators:
- Join a fellowship of educators
- Support teachers as leaders
- Strengthen school culture with empowered, collaborative educators
- For Districts:
- Supports recruitment and retention of high-quality educators
- Provides professional development tailored to teachers' actual interests and needs
- Strengthens school culture through empowered, collaborative teacher leaders
Workshop 1 (October 1, 2026)
Guest Speakers: Hear from two State Teachers of the Year from across the U.S. as they share how they have thrived personally and professionally, while helping their colleagues do the same, during one of the most challenging times to be an educator. Gain practical insights and inspiration for building teacher wellness, resilience, and sustainable practices that help educators stay, grow, and lead.
The discussion will be facilitated by Dean Trombly of the SCSU School of Education and Dr. Sternberg, Founder of TLFA.
Workshop 2 (November 5, 2026)
Guest Speakers: Jeremy D. Visone, Professor at Central Connecticut State University and author of Empowering Teacher Leadership: Strategies and Systems to Realize Your School ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.™s Potential and Teacher Leadership Practices in High Performing Schools: A Blueprint for Excellence; Dr. Betty J. Sternberg; and TLFA classroom teachers whose stories of professional agency will be featured in the forthcoming book, Cultivating Teacher Agency in a Chaotic World.
What happens when teachers recognize their power to shape what happens next? Explore how educators can exercise professional agency, turn ideas into action, and lead meaningful change ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú †.”without leaving the classroom. Hear how educators are putting teacher leadership into practice and discover strategies for expanding your own influence within your school and community.
Workshop 3 (December 3, 2026)
Vision of Durable Skills from Kindergarten to Graduation (Details to follow)
Workshop 4 (February 4, 2027)
Preparing Students for the Jobs of the Future/Career-Connected (Details to follow)
Workshop 5 (Marc 4, 2027)
Designing Learning Students Want to Participate In - Project-Based Learning (Details to follow)
Workshop 6 (April 1, 2027)
Teaching & Learning in the Age of AI (ADetails to follow)
Attending more than one TLFA Workshop? Enter TLFA20 at checkout to take advantage of the discounted rate!
Teachers, share this opportunity with your administrator!