The Teacher Learning and Leadership Program (TLLP) provides opportunities for experienced teachers to lead projects that enhance their professionalism and skills, extend their learning and share their expertise with others.
How does it work?
The TLLP is an annual program that provides grants for experienced classroom teachers to undertake self-chosen, self-directed, job-embedded professional development projects to expand their knowledge, develop leadership skills and share exemplary practices.
Teachers can apply, as individuals or as teams, to undertake self-directed projects with their own unique learning and sharing activities. The program has three goals:
Create and support opportunities for teacher professional learning
Foster teacher leadership
Facilitate the sharing of exemplary practices with others for the broader benefit of Ontario's students
Who can apply?
Experienced teachers from all Ontario publicly funded school boards, school authorities and provincial schools who have chosen to remain in the classroom can apply to lead a TLLP project. Groups must be teacher-led but may include other educational workers, such as education assistants, early childhood educators, board consultants and occasional teachers.
While teachers working in system-level or administrative positions (e.g. principals, coordinators, consultants) cannot submit an application or lead a TLLP project, these educatOrs can provide valuable input as team members.
Former TLLP project leads who have already completed a project may reapply to lead one additional project in a following cohort, as long as proposals are significantly different in topic or scope.
how can i apply?
The TLLP application form, important program guidelines, timelines and frequently asked questions are available on TeachOntario's TLLP/PKE page. Important resources are also available on the ministry's TLLP website. There, you can also access tips and ideas on how to complete the application form.
Completed project proposal/applications are submitted to your school board in November. A school board committee comprised of federation representatives and board staff will review all proposals and will identify two-three (depending on the size of your board) to recommend to the Ministry.
In February, a provincial Teacher Learning and Leadership Committee makes the final selection decisions.
what activities ARE successful applicants involved in?
attend the 'leadership skills for classroom teachers professional learning' session
carry out the activities described in their project proposal
participate in an online community of practice
share their learning with colleagues
complete a final report and submit it to the ministry
attend the 'sharing the learning summit'