Created by CCCOE AB212 Center-Based Professional Learning Communities Project Project Overview Developed by Contra Costa County Office of Education

Created by CCCOE AB212 Center-Based Professional Learning Communities Project Our Program Philosophy… Foster on-going professional development opportunities that enhance classroom practices that improve children’s learning outcomes, promote collaboration and, in turn, nurture and develop high functioning teams.

Created by CCCOE High-quality professional development is: Ongoing Intensive Classroom-focused “For teachers to change their practice, they need professional development opportunities that are in-depth and sustained” Source: Toward the Identification of Features of Effective Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Department, 2010

Created by CCCOE The program strives to foster: PEER-LEARNING - through the creation of small peer learning groups or discussion groups. COMMUNICATION - to identify areas of staff expertise and areas for staff growth. COLLABORATION- to promote sharing of professional knowledge, to utilize knowledge gained from professional development opportunities, to influence practice in the classroom and to support team-based approaches to program improvement. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - in areas that have been identified by the staff team at the site based on available data collected through formative assessment tools. PERSONAL GROWTH AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR STAFF - to support the retention of a stable and skilled workforce. AB212 Center-Based Professional Learning Communities Project GOALS

Professional is someone with the expertise in a specialized field; an individual who has not only pursued advanced training to enter the field, but who is also expected to remain current in its evolving knowledge base. Learning suggests ongoing action and perpetual curiosity. Community a group linked by common interests. Source: Professional Learning Communities at Work, Richard DeFour & Robert Eaker, 1998 Created by CCCOE Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

Created by CCCOE Professional Learning Communities A professional learning community is not an object or concept; rather it is a way of operating A change requires learning, and learning motivates change When staff work and learn within professional learning communities, continuous improvement becomes an embedded value

Characteristics of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) 1.Shared mission, vision, and values 2.Collective Inquiry 3.Collaborative Teams 4.Action Orientation and Experimentation 5.Continuous Improvement 6.Results Orientation Source: Professional Learning Communities at Work, Richard DeFour & Robert Eaker, 1998 Created by CCCOE

What is Collective Inquiry? Through collective discussion, PLC members can begin to identify questions that need answers and lead members to thoughtful discovery and professional development. -Du Four, Du Four & Eaker Questions may be: Learn what? How will we know? Created by CCCOE

What is Collaboration? A systematic process in which we work together, interdependently to analyze and impact professional practice in order to improve our individual and collective results. ___Du Four, Du Four & Eaker

Created by CCCOE Source: Toward the Identification of Features of Effective Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Department, 2010 “ Joint participation can help to support a professional culture and ensure the sustainability of new techniques and skills. Professional development that includes administrators helps to assure that early educators do not receive contradictory messages about what practices to implement or emphasize ”.

Created by CCCOE Team Defined A team is a group of people working interdependently toward a common goal for which members are mutually accountable. --Dufour

Created by CCCOE Keys to Effective Teams Collaboration, with a FOCUS ON LEARNING, is embedded in routine practices Time for collaboration is built into program day and calendar Teams focus on key questions about learning Products of collaboration are made explicit Team norms guide collaboration __Dufour

Continuous Improvement “ Greater change is possible when individuals in a social organization: (1) are prepared together in order to develop a shared knowledge base, (2) are involved in assessing their own needs, (3) receive ongoing staff development over an extended period of time, and (4) have opportunities to apply their new knowledge and skills in the work setting” Created by CCCOE

Working Together... to build shared knowledge is the best way to achieve goals and meet the needs of clients. This is exactly what PROFESSIONALS in any field are expected to do…whether in curing a patient, winning a lawsuit or helping ALL children learn! This is action orientation and experimentation.

Created by CCCOE Is your organization ready? Identify team members Discuss professional development ideas Determine professional development goals Plan to attend the mandatory CB-PLC Project Seminar

Professional Learning Community Project Technical Assistance Terrissa Hein Contra Costa County Office of Education 77 Santa Barbara Rd. Pleasant Hill, CA Created by CCCOE

Thank you for your interest in Professional Learning Communities! We hope to meet with you to share more about the AB212 Center-based Professional Learning Communities Project!