This is Not Your Ordinary Professional Development! Professional Learning Communities:The Power of Collaboration Heather Sullivan- FRHSD 2007

GOALS FOR TODAY Define PLC (it really is more than just another acronym to remember!) Highlight the need for collaborative job-embedded professional learning opportunities in our school Plan for teaming & collaboration in schools

Define PLC (it really is more than just another acronym to remember!)

Highlight the need for collaborative job-embedded professional learning opportunities in our school

Plan for teaming & collaboration in schools

Focused teacher learning opportunities enhance student learning.

They are NOT what we’ve been used to They are NOT Prescriptive They are NOT New What PLCs are NOT

They are NOT what we’ve been used to

They are NOT Prescriptive

They are NOT New

Professional Learning Communities foster focused teacher learning

PLCs are an Infrastructure , or a way of working together, which results in continuous school improvement PLCs are Empowering PLCs are a way to Transform Professional Development What They Are

PLCs are an Infrastructure , or a way of working together, which results in continuous school improvement

PLCs are Empowering

PLCs are a way to Transform Professional Development

Transforming Professional Development

The very essence of a learning community is a focus on and a commitment to the learning of each student……if the organization is to become more effective in helping all students learn, the adults in the organization must be continually learning. DuFour,Eaker, and Many (2006)

The very essence of a learning community is a focus on and a commitment to the learning of each student……if the organization is to become more effective in helping all students learn, the adults in the organization must be continually learning.

DuFour,Eaker, and Many (2006)

Shared and Supportive Leadership Shared Values and Vision Collective Learning and Application Supportive Conditions Shared Personal Practice PLC Attributes Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - Austin, TX

Shared and Supportive Leadership

Shared Values and Vision

Collective Learning and Application

Supportive Conditions

Shared Personal Practice

In-School /After School Departmental/Cross-Curricular Groups Ex. CORE Team Asynchronous/Synchronous In-Person/Virtual Moodle Pages, Wikis , etc. Webinars , Web Conferences District-Based Specialized Networking Groups (NSTA, etc.) Varied Context

In-School /After School

Departmental/Cross-Curricular Groups

Ex. CORE Team

Asynchronous/Synchronous

In-Person/Virtual

Moodle Pages, Wikis , etc.

Webinars , Web Conferences

District-Based

Specialized Networking Groups (NSTA, etc.)

Collaborative cultures, which by definition have close relationships, are indeed powerful. BUT, unless they are focused on the right things they may end up being powerfully wrong. Michael Fullan

Collaborative cultures, which by definition have close relationships, are indeed powerful. BUT, unless they are focused on the right things they may end up being powerfully wrong.

Michael Fullan

So, what will be the focus of our collaboration?

So, what will be the focus of our collaboration?

Why? How?

All educators can make a difference with All students Our school becomes a more effective learning environment when we commit to learning about & improving our practices & structures. Supporting & helping educators to improve should be a key function of school leadership School-wide collaboration focused on improvement will have a significant impact on teaching & learning. FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS

All educators can make a difference with All students

Our school becomes a more effective learning environment when we commit to learning about & improving our practices & structures.

Supporting & helping educators to improve should be a key function of school leadership

School-wide collaboration focused on improvement will have a significant impact on teaching & learning.

Leadership…is a team performance… Winning strategies are based on the “we not I” philosophy. Collaboration is a social imperative. Without it people can’t get extraordinary things done. -Kouzes and Posner (2003)

Leadership…is a team performance… Winning strategies are based on the “we not I” philosophy. Collaboration is a social imperative. Without it people can’t get extraordinary things done.

-Kouzes and Posner (2003)

Our Essential Questions What do our students need to know and be able to do in order to be successful at each level of their learning? ( NJ CCCS ) What knowledge and skills do educators need to ensure student success? ( NJ Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders )

What do our students need to know and be able to do in order to be successful at each level of their learning? ( NJ CCCS )

What knowledge and skills do educators need to ensure student success? ( NJ Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders )

Our Essential Questions What do teachers need to learn to support student learning? ( NJ Professional Development Standards ) How will we know when our students have mastered skills & knowledge? ( HSPA & local formative and summative assessments ) What will we do when students have NOT mastered skills & knowledge? ( Interventions -3 Levels: classroom, school and beyond )

What do teachers need to learn to support student learning? ( NJ Professional Development Standards )

How will we know when our students have mastered skills & knowledge? ( HSPA & local formative and summative assessments )

What will we do when students have NOT mastered skills & knowledge? ( Interventions -3 Levels: classroom, school and beyond )

… The methods for improving schools must not come from outside the schools. The most lasting and important changes will come from within and will draw on the great resources within the schools. Roland Barth

Is sustained by supportive and shared leadership Works to develop a shared vision, mission, values and goals Collaborates within the team to deepen the knowledge base of all professionals to support student needs Utilizes inquiry and reflection to solve the tough problems A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING TEAM…

Is sustained by supportive and shared leadership

Works to develop a shared vision, mission, values and goals

Collaborates within the team to deepen the knowledge base of all professionals to support student needs

Utilizes inquiry and reflection to solve the tough problems

Existing Committee Examples: Professional Relations Technology Advancement New Teacher Mentoring Curriculum Development “ Not Far Off the Mark” Examples: Teacher of the Year Formative Assessment Creation Groups Tech “Groups” PLCs are Already Here!

Existing Committee Examples:

Professional Relations

Technology Advancement

New Teacher Mentoring

Curriculum Development

“ Not Far Off the Mark” Examples:

Teacher of the Year

Formative Assessment Creation Groups

Tech “Groups”

DEPENDS ON instructional & administrative leadership both focused on the needs of the students NOT ON disconnected programs or top-down decision making. School Improvement

DEPENDS ON

instructional & administrative leadership both focused on the needs of the students

NOT ON

disconnected programs or

top-down decision making.

Be An Instrument of Change

Be An Instrument of Change