1. Matthew Pratt Assistant Principal Whitehouse High School 2017-2018
Transformation of the Social Studies Department into a Professional Learning Community
Matthew Pratt
Assistant Principal
Whitehouse High School

2. What is a PLC?
A PLC is a team of educators collaboratively working toward improving teaching skills and the academic performance of students.

3. PLC Implementation My Goal
Develop a collective team of social studies/history educators who are interdependent upon one another's efforts, knowledge, participation, failures and successes; all working toward a common goal of leading students to perform at the highest levels.

4. Benefits of PLC’s Decreased teacher isolation Increased collaboration
Increased commitment
Shared responsibility
Growth
See Handout 1

5. Implementation Plan Create time (Common Planning Periods)
Build relevant teams (US, World, W GEO, ½ Credit Classes, AP)
Begin and maintain honest and open lines of communication
Mandate required attendance
Collectively set meeting norms
Adopt a vision/mission and mantra for each team
Establish and model the culture of shared responsibility and accountability. (Own it)

6. Setting PLC Agenda Process
AP and AC will formulate an agenda based on the following
Data generated from common assessments, walkthroughs, and observations.
Solicited points of discussion from teaches prior to meeting.
Agenda setting is to be done with great fidelity
This is to ensure that we are not meeting just to meet.
Every meeting will serve a purpose and a benefit for teachers to attend.
See Handout 2

7. Types of PLC’s Data PLC’s Content/Strategy PLC’s
Review assessment data from Unit, Benchmark, and STAAR results
Identify low SE’s and plan interventions to address them
Content/Strategy PLC’s
Examine difficult TEKS and discuss best practices for addressing them
Discuss uses of TEKS Resources and the built in Performance Based Assessments
Facilitate PD for teachers on various classroom strategies to sharpen skills and introduce new practices.
T-TESS Clarification
Formative Assessments
Engagement Strategies

8. Sustainment
Administer periodic checks for effectiveness and health of the PLC.
Gradually release leadership of the PLC from the AP to the AC and Team Leaders.
Encourage self directedness through empowering teachers as leaders.

9. Expected Obstacles Lack of buy in and understanding
“I have been teaching for 20 years…. Why should I change? They aren’t paying me more”.
“I’m too busy with other duties I’m responsible for”.
“I’m the only one who teaches this course… Why do I need to be on a team?”
“What I've been doing is working, I’m not doing this”.
When teachers push back…
Find Common Ground
Support decisions with data
Remind them that all of this is for students

10. Questions? Assistant Principal Matthew Pratt 469-474-9336m