How to Develop Plcs for Singletons and Small Schools: (Creating Vertical, Virtual, and Interdisciplinary Teams to Eliminate Teacher Isolation)

Part of the Solutions for Professional Learning Communities series.

Ensure singleton teachers feel integrally involved in the PLC process with this concise, user-friendly guide. You'll quickly discover how small schools, full of singleton teachers who are the only ones in their schools teaching their subject areas, can build successful PLCs and avoid teacher isolation. Explore five methods for structuring PLC teams for better teacher support and collaboration. Better involve singletons, and read short examples that highlight how real schools have made collaboration among teachers possible.

Quickly learn how to create your own singleton teacher support network using the PLC process:

• Understand what it means to practice collaboration lite and evaluate teacher collaboration in your school or district.
• Examine scenarios, opportunities, challenges, recommendations, and PLC ideas for electives teachers or other singletons.
• Review specific ways that teams can connect teachers and help small teams be active participants in the PLC process.
• Learn the essential steps for creating vertical, virtual, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Read sample dialogues and quick tips for how to state intentions related to building PLC teams and including singletons in the process.

Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Vertical Teams
Chapter 2: Interdisciplinary Teams
Chapter 3: Singletons Who Support
Chapter 4: Virtual Teams
Chapter 5: Changing Structures
Epilogue

Books in the Solutions for Professional Learning Communities Series:

• How to Use Digital Tools to Support Teachers in a PLC
• How to Launch PLCs in Your District
• How to Leverage PLCs for School Improvement
• How to Cultivate Collaboration in a PLC
• How to Coach Leadership in a PLC
• How to Develop PLCs for Singletons and Small Schools

Aaron Hansen is a nationally recognized presenter, consultant, and author who empowers teachers and leaders to transform their schools.

As principal, Aaron led the transformation of Nevada's White Pine Middle School (WPMS) into a nationally recognized, high-achieving school. Under Aaron's leadership, WPMS won many awards, including Title I Distinguished School, National Model School (2009-2012), and the only middle school in the country to be named Middle School of Distinction (2010) by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Aaron has been featured in many books, articles, and TV news stories, including ABC's World News with Charles Gibson, CNN's American Morning, Fox Network's Fox and Friends, and the BBC documentary Jodie Marsh: Bullied, all highlighting the changes Aaron led in transforming school culture and combating bullying. Aaron was named Nevada's Innovative Educator of the Year in 2009.

Aaron is a contributing author to It's About Time: Planning Interventions and Extensions in Secondary Schools. He also has worked with thousands of educators across North America and beyond, helping them improve their processes in PLCs, RTI, teacher and leader improvement, student and staff culture, and comprehensive school transformation. He is a leadership consultant with the Northeastern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program.