The Relevance of Visibility in Cultivating Teacher Leaders’ Professional Identity

Abstract

In the realm of education, discussions surrounding the concept of “visibility” typically concentrate on students and marginalized populations, often overlooking highly positioned individuals, such as leading teachers. This research delves into the fundamental importance of visibility in the transformative process of teacher professional development as leaders. It investigates its character among teacher leaders and the experience of being seen and scrutinizes its central role in shaping a cohesive professional identity. Over a two-year period, data were gathered from 42 leading teachers in elementary and high schools using a phenomenological approach. The findings reveal a paradox: despite the visibility of teachers in their communities, expressions of a lack of professional visibility persist in their continuing professional development (CPD). However, visibility is crucial for research participants, serving as a catalyst for shaping their professional identity. This identity formation involves four key processes: recognizing one’s developmental journey, reflecting on professional experiences within a timeframe, fostering introspection, and reconstructing identity based on reflection outcomes. This iterative process signifies continuous evolution and analysis.