Teacher Leaders, or mentors, are math or science teachers with California Clear credentials on staff at urban Los Angeles middle and high schools, who have earned, or are in progress toward earning, a Math and Science Teaching Transformational Leader certificate. The CMAST Transformational Leader Certificate program is designed to advance student engagement and achievement in mathematics or science in any educational setting by taking successful, credentialed teachers and developing their expertise into teacher leadership.

The purpose for certification is to provide specific training, resources, and the support necessary to acquire and refine effective instructional practices for adults, coaching, mentoring, and leadership skills.

The CMAST TL Certificate is designed for Teacher Leaders (TLs) who want to remain in the classroom as master practitioners, teach colleagues how to implement research-supported practices in the classroom, as well as coach and collaborate with their colleagues to strengthen the MAST system at their respective sites.

The MAST Transformational Leader coursework prepares candidates to become teacher leaders, mentors, master practitioners, and coaches.  Candidates learn adult learning theory, situated learning theory, and research supported mathematical or scientific practices.  Successful candidates will be able to articulate, model, and synthesize the complex interplay of all practical and theoretical components involved in teaching adults how to increase student engagement and learning in mathematics or science.  


Teacher Leaders in the LAMS Residency
During the year prior to teaching a resident, future mentors are enrolled in interactive courses where they learn to demonstrate, coach, and articulate effective teaching practices.  Each month CMAST clinical faculty observes, coaches, and teaches the TL candidates using teacher and student data.  During the second semester, TL candidates learn to coach colleagues on-site, beginning with co-observing and co-coaching their colleagues on-site with CMAST clinical faculty. Gradually, the mentors observe and coach on their own in preparation for observing and coaching their resident in year two.

During their second year, Teacher Leaders begin to mentor Residents in the classroom.  The pair collaborates on all parts of the teaching process/ planning, delivering a lesson and assessing whether or not the goals were achieved. As the year progresses, the mentors assume a greater responsibility of teaching the Residents, while they continue to learn how to teach and lead adults.

During their third year, TLs continue to mentor Residents, and with LMU faculty, they take on a greater leadership role in their math/science department by co-planning and co-facilitating professional development sessions.  Mentors also receive continued support at semi-annual professional development seminars at LMU to collaborate around recent changes & innovations in math/science education. 



Teacher Leaders are value-driven in their professional practice and embody the TCRP and MAST values of highly effective teachers:

• Math or Science as an exuberant way of life
• Passionate belief that all students can learn mathematics and science
• Communicate and collaborate to educate
• Aggressive and positive perseverance through challenges