School District of Clayton

The Lab Classroom Leadership Program is a professional development structure that is designed to improve student achievement while strengthening professional practice. It is a program that promotes and sustains teacher leaders by developing expertise through job-embedded professional development within the classroom setting. A lab classroom is a place where talented teachers collaborate with other educators, while deepening their knowledge of literacy, technology, data-driven instruction and ways to help students access content. 

Teachers submit applications and are chosen to represent schools in the District. It is a two-year commitment that includes summer learning, after-school learning, and Instructional Talk Throughs, where teachers observe each other teaching and provide feedback to impact instruction. All Lab Classroom teachers develop a personalized leadership plan for their ongoing involvement in the building and/or District. Lab Classroom teachers are paid a stipend for each year in the program to cover their summer and after-school work.