Courageous Capacity: Designing Systems and Developing Skills With Adult Learners (Strategies for supporting adult learners in a PLC)

Authors Regina Stephens Owens, Crystal Johnson Cross, and Harriet D. Moore offer a powerful framework for sustaining learning and designing a transformational learning culture for adult learners. By focusing on building capacity, developing culture, continuously learning, and sustaining community, they empower systems to develop adult learners’ skills and achieve transformational learning and results in every part of the organization.

K–12 district and school leaders and instructional coaches can use this book to:

• Cultivate professional environments that encourage continued learning and active inquiry
• Align mindsets and actions to achieve a common vision and responsive engagement
• Collect, analyze, and act on data to ensure efficacy of practice in achieving goals
• Sustain performance and commitment to ongoing progress and efficacy
• Create a strong community of belonging where everyone has a role, feels valued, and makes a significant contribution

Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Exploring Triple-Loop Learning
Chapter 2: Designing Culture
Chapter 3: Developing Systems and Processes
Chapter 4: Using Data to Determine the Impact
Chapter 5: Sustaining the Learning Community and Continuous Improvement
References and Resources
Index

Regina Stephens Owens, EdD, has served 30 years as an advocate and administrator in public education. Her experience as a teacher and a campus and district administrator in Texas has afforded exceptional opportunities to build relationships and better humanity through educational coaching and public speaking in the United States and Canada. Dr. Owens’s service as an educator from schools to statehouses always begins with valuing humanity. Her work has been applauded in her leadership of Model PLC at Work® virtual schools, her work in the central office, and her coaching of Model PLC at Work schools across the United States.
To learn more about the work of Dr. Owens, visit https://linktr.ee/regina.owens.

Crystal Johnson Cross, EdD, is a distinguished educator, facilitator, trainer, and coach known for her commitment to enhancing learning, teaching, and leadership in the field of education. With a wealth of experience and a strong educational background, she has made a significant impact on schools, educators, and leaders across the United States.
Dr. Cross brings a passion and a wealth of knowledge and experience to every client, project, or endeavor. She is truly a catalyst for positive change in the world of education and beyond.

Harriet D. Moore, EdD, currently holds the esteemed position of director of strategic engagement within the Sarasota County School District. A practitioner for over 20 years, spanning various educational roles, Dr. Moore brings a deep and enduring commitment to the field of education.
Widely respected as an educational consultant, Dr. Moore collaborates with educators, school districts, and community organizations to create school and community cultures rooted in core values. A passionate advocate for systemic transformation, she believes in the power of inclusive, belonging-centered PLCs. Dr. Moore emphasizes that by expanding the learning capacity of adults through intentional, collaborative practices, we create the conditions for every student to flourish. Her work continues to inspire others to realize education as a powerful and transformative force in society.