Professional Learning Communities

Learning + Enthusiasm + Collaboration = Results!

What is a Professional Learning Community? A group of people committed to

learning and to supporting others in continual learning

Participants learn from each other and with each other

Why Professional Learning Communities? Provides teachers and administrators

with the kind of experiences they want to provide for their students

Support teachers and administrators as they face increasing challenges

Support change and school improvement

4 Pillars of a PLC…1. Mission

Why does our school exist?

2. VisionWhat kind of school do we want our school to

be?

3. ValuesWhat do we have to believe in, commit to and

act upon to make our school be that kind of school?

4. GoalsHow do we get there?

Characteristics: Shared mission, vision, values,

goals Collaborative teams Inquiry into “best practice” and

our “current reality” Commitment to continuous

improvement

If we believe that all kids can learn… What is it we expect them to learn?

How will we know when they have learned it?

How will we respond when they don’t learn?

Where are we? We found time

One team meeting per week

One grade level planning meeting/week

2 observations per semester

Next Steps… Purchase Getting Started Revisit the Gauger-Cobbs Mission

Statement Create our common vision Identify shared values Reflect on our PEP goals Structured collaborative activities

to get us there.

Professional Learning Communities

A component of Distributed Leadership