Peer Facilitator Training
Developing teacher leaders for school-based professional learning
The most sustainable professional development happens when teachers lead learning for their peers. Our Peer Facilitator Training develops practising teachers to become facilitators who can lead workshops, coordinate communities of practice, and support school-based professional learning.
Selection Criteria
Peer facilitators are experienced teachers who demonstrate:
- Strong classroom practice aligned with TPA principles
- Successful completion of TDSO training programmes
- Potential for leadership and influence among peers
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
- Nomination and support from their school leadership
Training Content
Facilitating Adult Learning
Adults learn differently from children, and facilitating peer learning requires specific skills:
- Understanding adult learning principles
- Designing activities that respect teachers’ experience
- Connecting new learning to existing practice
- Creating relevance and immediate applicability
Managing Group Dynamics
Peer facilitators must navigate complex social dynamics:
- Encouraging participation from all members
- Managing dominant voices constructively
- Handling disagreement and conflict productively
- Building group cohesion and mutual support
Creating Safe Professional Spaces
Professional growth requires vulnerability, which requires safety:
- Establishing norms for respectful interaction
- Maintaining confidentiality about professional challenges
- Modelling openness about one’s own development areas
- Celebrating effort and growth, not just success
Distributed Leadership Impact
This programme creates distributed leadership capacity within schools and districts, reducing dependence on external trainers whilst building networks of teachers who support each other’s ongoing development. Peer facilitators become the backbone of our Professional Learning Communities, ensuring sustainability beyond TDSO’s direct involvement.
