Through an interactive presentation, participants will receive information on how significant teacher behavior changes, and documented student learning increases, when PLCs are used. Changes in teacher practice, developed through collaborative staff learning through PLC Teamss, results in increased academic achievement. Through hands-on activities, attendees will learn the components of PLC Teams (roles, agreements, norms, data analysis, SMART goals and evaluation), as well as the required district commitments.
For our presentation, we would like to share our district’s journey to provide meaningful and sustainable professional development for our teachers. The district designed a Professional Development Academy to enhance the individual expertise of thirty eight staff members. Over the course of one school year, participants met in cohorts of ten, every month, and honed their skills in the areas of literacy and data-driven decision making. These experiences not only were quite manageable but also proved to be both sustainable and systemic.
School and university partners share their accomplishments after 12 years of collaborative work in Professional Development Schools. This work includes: mentoring preservice teachers, supporting novice teachers, reenergizing veteran teachers, co-teaching undergraduate classes, offering graduate classes at PDSs, clinics run by university students, facilitating professional learning communities, and much more
