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