Smart educators know simplicity is key to mitigating overwhelm and ensuring success. This book will help. Access the proven PLC at Work® process in a straightforward, easy-to-implement guide. Designated actions and essential steps for teachers, school leaders, and coaches focus on answering each of the four critical questions of a professional learning community so you can be confident you are doing the right work.
This book will help teachers, school leaders, and coaches: - Learn the six actions that help answer each of the four critical questions of a PLC
- Create a shared vision among teacher and leadership teams and gain clarity on student mastery of essential standards
- Employ meaningful feedback to encourage student self-assessment and ownership of learning
- Utilize field-tested prompts, rubrics, and templates to facilitate effective ongoing collaboration
- Address common roadblocks in establishing a collaborative school culture and work environment
Contents: Introduction
Chapter 1: Identifying Essential Standards and Skills
Chapter 2: Gaining Shared Clarity and Defining Mastery
Chapter 3: Encouraging Student Ownership Through Student Self-Assessment
Chapter 4: Utilizing Formative Assessment for Feedback
Chapter 5: Learning From Formative Data
Chapter 6: Creating Extra Time and Support
Chapter 7: Ensuring Focused, Productive Collaboration
Final Thoughts
References and Resources
Index
Bob Sonju is an award-winning educational leader, author, and speaker nationally recognized for his energetic commitment to coaching educational leaders and teacher teams in research-based processes and systems that create the conditions for lasting success. Bob has led two separate schools to national Model PLC at Work status; one of his schools also received the prestigious National Breakthrough School Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. As a district leader, Bob led the implementation of the PLC process in a district composed of over fifty schools.
Bob was named Principal of the Year by the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals and was selected as one of three finalists for National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. His work has been published in the Solution Tree books It’s About Time, Secondary; Best Practices at Tier 2, Elementary; Best Practices at Tier 2, Secondary; Help Your Team; and Women Who Lead, as well as in the magazine Principal Leadership.
Maren Powers is an award-winning educator and Solution Tree associate. Maren is a practicing language arts teacher and learning coach in the Washington County School District. Throughout her time in the district, she has worked and trained at two Model PLC Schools―Fossil Ridge Intermediate and Washington Fields Intermediate. At Washington Fields, she was integral in the opening and implementation of the PLC process and school culture at WFIS. Because of her experience as a teacher and learning coach, she has learned how to do the work successfully. Maren is passionate about helping other educators implement, coach, and lead through the PLC process.
In 2020, Maren received the Rebecca DuFour Scholarship, which celebrates ten women educators across the country who demonstrate exceptional leadership in their school community. Using her experience as an educator and Solution Tree associate, Maren has successfully presented to the Utah State Board of Education as well as many districts, schools, and conferences across the United States, focusing on the implementation of the PLC process as a teacher and coach.
Sheline Miller is currently a high school vice principal. She is the former learning coach for the Washington County School District. She has worked successfully with teachers and teams to help establish the practices that have led to recognition of two Model PLC Schools―Fossil Ridge Intermediate School and Washington Fields Intermediate School.
In her capacity as learning coach, she has served as lead learning coach in her large district to help bring clarity and consistency to teams from school to school. She is also the lead instructor for a leadership certification titled Leading in a PLC.
Sheline frequently hosts learning walks of her school for visiting schools and districts, showcasing the work of a true PLC. She was honored to address the Utah State Board of Education sharing the impact PLCs have on student learning and success as well as presenting to the Washington County School Board showcasing increased teacher efficacy and its relation to embedded best practices focused on the four critical questions of a PLC.
