A self-paced course for educators who are ready to lead.
Teachers Are Leaders™
Expand your influence and impact—without leaving the classroom.
A six-module, self-paced course grounded in research and built for educators who know they have more to give.
One-time payment · Instant access · Self-paced
You already know you're a leader.
You see what needs to change in your school. You have ideas, relationships, and credibility. But without a formal title, it’s easy to hold back—waiting to be asked, feeling isolated, unsure how to influence the adults around you.
Most professional development teaches you what to teach. Nobody teaches you how to lead.
"This course focuses on you as a leader—not just what you do in the classroom."
That’s the gap Teachers Are Leaders™ was built to close.
A leadership development experience built on real research.
Teachers Are Leaders™ is a self-paced leadership development course and workbook grounded in research, real-world practice, Dr. Kim Richardson’s dissertation research on teacher leadership identity development, and insights from her 2025 year-long The Learning Professional column series, Teachers Are Leaders.
This is not a strategy course. It’s a leadership identity course—designed to help you strengthen your influence, expand your impact, and sustain your growth over time.
Six modules. Self-paced. Immediately applicable in your school.
Built around the ACT Framework
Every module is structured around three principles that move you from self-awareness to real-world action.
Awareness
Understanding yourself, your leadership identity, and your influence.
Conversation
Learning how to engage others through meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
Transfer
Applying leadership learning immediately in real-world school settings.
Six modules designed for real leadership growth
Each module includes required reading, two video lessons, an Awareness Lab self-assessment, a Conversation Lab for peer dialogue, a Reflection Journal, and a 72-Hour Transfer Action—a concrete leadership move you apply in your school within three days.
MODULE 1
Recognize Your Voice
Understand that leadership is an influence process—not a position—and begin initiating solution-focused conversations.
MODULE 2
Influence Without a Title
Identify and leverage your personal power through expertise, visibility, relationships, and trust.
MODULE 3
Lead Adults Effectively
Develop the leadership competencies required to influence and collaborate with adult peers, including interpersonal effectiveness, facilitation skills, and group processes.
MODULE 4
Expand Your Impact
Move beyond classroom walls by taking action across key areas of teacher leadership, including collaboration, advocacy, school culture, and instructional improvement.
MODULE 5
Navigate School Culture
Assess barriers within school culture and learn strategies for building collaborative and supportive environments.
MODULE 6
Sustain Your Leadership Growth
Create a 90-day action plan and support network that supports leadership growth without burnout.
The course culminates in the development of a personalized Teacher Leadership Impact Plan—a living document designed to guide your continued growth and leadership practice.
Where you start. Where you finish.
Before participating in this course, you may:
- Believe unmet needs are “someone else’s job”
- Wait for a formal title before stepping into leadership
- Feel isolated in your classroom
- Struggle with leading adult peers effectively
- Want greater impact but feel unsure how to begin
After completing this course, you will:
- Develop a clear Leadership Identity Statement
- Take initiative without waiting to be asked
- Use your personal power to influence positive change
- Build a collaborative support network
- Leave with a concrete 90-day action plan for measurable leadership growth
Everything included at $97
- Six self-paced modules in workbook format with video lessons, reflection journals, self-assessments, conversation labs, and 72-hour Transfer Actions so you can implement as you go
- Develop Your Teacher Leadership Impact Plan—a living document that includes your 90-day action plan for measurable leadership growth
- Certificate of Professional Development upon completion (suitable for CE credit or re-licensure)
- Complimentary Virtual Coaching Session with Dr. Kim upon completion
One-time payment · Instant access · Self-paced
Flexible by design.
This course is fully self-paced. Because each module includes a 72-hour leadership action challenge, many participants choose to complete one module per week over a six-week period. However, the course can be completed at whatever pace best fits your schedule.
Ways to use this course:
Independent Study
Complete the course individually at your own pace while applying the learning directly within your school environment.
Peer Partnership
Work alongside a colleague using the built-in Conversation Labs for accountability, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving.
Cohort or PLC Model
Schools and districts can use the course as part of a teacher leadership pipeline or professional learning community experience.
Meet Dr. Kim Richardson
Dr. Kim Richardson is a leadership strategist, executive coach, speaker, and founder of Dr. Kim Leadership: Keep Rising. Her work centers on developing people-centered leaders through coaching, communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership identity development.
Dr. Richardson’s expertise in teacher leadership is rooted in both scholarship and practice. Her doctoral dissertation focused on teacher leadership identity development, exploring how educators grow into leadership roles, develop influence, and navigate leadership without necessarily leaving the classroom. Her research continues to shape leadership development experiences for educators and school systems across the country.
In 2025, Dr. Richardson authored the year-long The Learning Professional column series, Teachers Are Leaders, further establishing her voice and thought leadership in the field of teacher leadership development. Through her writing, coaching, keynote speaking, and leadership programming, she helps educators recognize that leadership is not confined to a title—it is an influence process grounded in relationships, credibility, and action.
Dr. Richardson has worked with schools, districts, and educational organizations to strengthen leadership pipelines, develop collaborative cultures, and equip educators with the competencies needed to lead adults effectively.
Her message is simple: Rise up and lead.
This course is for you if…
- You know you have influence but do not hold a formal leadership title
- You want to expand your impact without leaving the classroom
- You are an instructional coach, mentor, department chair, or aspiring leader seeking stronger adult leadership skills
- You feel isolated, stagnant, or burned out and want a sustainable path forward
- You are a principal or district leader looking to strengthen teacher leadership capacity and distributed leadership across your organization
This Course May Not Be the Right Fit If…
- You believe leadership only comes with a title or position
- You prefer identifying problems without engaging in solutions
- You are unwilling to engage in honest self-reflection and growth
Frequently asked questions
How long does the course take?
It’s fully self-paced. Many participants complete one module per week over six weeks, but you can go faster or slower based on your schedule.
Will this count toward re-licensure or continuing education?
Yes. Upon completion, you can submit your workbook to receive a Certificate of Professional Development suitable for continuing education or re-licensure documentation.
What is the coaching session with Dr. Kim and how do I claim it?
Upon successful course completion, you can claim a complimentary virtual coaching session with Dr. Kim—either one 60-minute session or two 30-minute sessions. This coaching experience gives participants space to process challenges, clarify goals, and strengthen their leadership practice with personalized support.
Can my school or district purchase this for a team?
Yes. The course works well for cohorts and PLCs. Contact Dr. Kim directly for group pricing and implementation support.
Ready to rise up and lead?
Join Teachers Are Leaders™ and start leading from where you are.
One-time payment · Instant access · Self-paced