Washington Education Association

Educational Service Districts

Association of Washington School Principals

Washington Association of School Administrators

A Joint Partnership between . . .

1. The first is to rethink and transform the current professional development paradigm.

2. The second is to restructure the design, delivery, content, context and expectations for outcomes of teachers' professional development.

3. The third is reculturing schools and communities in ways that create and nurture opportunities for on-going, job-embedded teacher growth and professional development.

Source: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - SEDL

Educators in 100 different districts identified three broad areas of change that need to

occur to improve student learning

1. The first is to rethink and transform the current professional development paradigm.

2. The second is to restructure the design, delivery, content, context and expectations for outcomes of teachers' professional development.

3. The third is reculturing schools and communities in ways that create and nurture opportunities for on-going, job-embedded teacher growth and professional development.

Source: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - SEDL

Why Professional Learning Communities?

Involves staff identifying their own needs and developing learning experiences to meet those needs

Is school-based and embedded in daily work

Is organized around collaborative problem-solving

Is continuous and on-going with follow-up and support

Focuses on student learning and instructional practice

Provides opportunities to apply new learning within the context of the classroom

Is connected to a comprehensive change process

Is recognized by research to improve student learning

Is . . . A collaborative process

Is . . . Focused on student work and student learning

Is . . . Focused on Instructional Practice

Is . . . An empowering infrastructure of support

Is . . . Effective professional development

Is . . . Connected to the context of teachers’ classrooms

Is . . . Action and results oriented

Is . . . Continuous school improvement

A Professional Learning Community . . .

A Professional Learning Community . . .

Is Not . . . A prescription

Is Not . . . A new “Program”

Is Not . . . A book study

Is Not . . . Forced on educators

Southwest Educational Development Laboratory- SEDL

Staff Benefits

Reduced teacher isolation

Collective responsibility for student success

Increased understanding of the roles teachers play in helping all students achieve

More satisfaction

higher morale

less absenteeism

Southwest Educational Development Laboratory - SEDL

Student Benefits

Decreased dropout rate

Less absenteeism

Greater academic gains in comparison to traditional schools

Smaller achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds

Partnership Between Educational Organizations

Learning Website - PLCWashington.org

On-line PLC Courses

Embed authentic Learning Cycles

Professional Development Supports

Capacity Building in Schools and Districts

What is PLCWashington?

Introduction to PLC’s

Necessary Conditions

Supportive and Shared Leadership

Building Trust

Collaboration

PLC Models and Study Groups

Coaching

Training and Support

PLC Modules and Resources

On-line Course

For More Information Contact

• Scott Poirier – WEA – spoirier@washingtonea.org– (360) 561-0019

• Dana Anderson – ESD 113– danderson@esd113.k12.wa.us– (360) 464-6721