A senior teacher winning (5)
I believe the answer is:
ahead
'winning' is the definition.
(both can mean in the lead)
'a senior teacher' is the wordplay.
'senior teacher' becomes 'head' (headteacher).
'a'+'head'='AHEAD'
(Other definitions for ahead that I've seen before include "In front as in race" , "What's down the road" , "advanced" , "In the vanguard" , "Winning" .)