Beyond empty vessels and bridges: toward defining teachers as the agents of school change

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges facing education systems is implementing the changes that make schools, and therefore, nations, internationally competitive. The resistance to change, the possibilities of change, and the roles the many and various stakeholders play in leading change have been noted by scholars on the topic of change in school. While their viewpoints may vary, one point of agreement among these authors is that change is the only constant, but stories of entrenchment and resistance remain a dominant narrative. In this article, we seek to disrupt the traditional views of school reform by redefining the roles teachers can play in school change.

Keywords:

• teacher change agent
• educational change
• school reform