1. Professional Learning Communities
Learning + Enthusiasm + Collaboration = Results!

2. 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

3. 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. 4 Pillars of a PLC… Mission Vision Values Goals
Why does our school exist?
Vision
What kind of school do we want our school to be?
Values
What do we have to believe in, commit to and act upon to make our school be that kind of school?
Goals
How do we get there?

5. Characteristics: Shared mission, vision, values, goals
Collaborative teams
Inquiry into “best practice” and our “current reality”
Commitment to continuous improvement

6. 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?

7. Where are we? We found time One team meeting per week
One grade level planning meeting/week
2 observations per semester

8. 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.

9. Professional Learning Communities
A component of Distributed Leadership