Transformative Collaboration: Five Commitments for Leading a Professional Learning Community

Every school strives to better itself so that it can better its students. In Transformative Collaboration, the authors dive deep into one of the strongest strategies for school improvement--the PLC process. You will explore five collaboration-based commitments--from gaining clarity to building trust--that will ultimately help you build and sustain a PLC that provides the best possible avenues of learning to students

Use this resource to provide students with the education they deserve:

• Commit to collaboration and use the five commitments to transform your school
• Understand what it means to be a PLC
• Find the courage to lead the process
• Build a climate of trust
• Shape school structures for success
• Create clarity in collaboration

Contents:
Table of Contents
About the Authors
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: Understand What it Means to Be a PLC
Chapter 2: Find the Courage You Need to Lead
Chapter 3: Build a Climate of Trust
Chapter 4: Shape School Structures for Success
Chapter 5: Create Clarity in Collaboration
Appendix: Key Terms
References and Resources
Index

Tonia Flanagan is former director of the Centre for Professional Learning. She currently serves as a senior training associate for Hawker Brownlow Education and a primary school principal. With over thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, regional curriculum advisor, school principal and consultant, Tonia has expertise in instructional leadership and how it can have a direct impact on student achievement.

Gavin Grift is the founder and CEO of Grift Education. Gavin's passion, commitment, humor, and highly engaging style have made him one of Australia's most in-demand presenters. Through his keynotes, seminars, and coaching services, Gavin connects with international audiences on how to cultivate authentic collaboration, build success in others, and genuinely commit to reflective practice. His belief in the development of defined professional autonomy for educators challenges and connects the heads and hearts of his audience members.

Gavin has held numerous educational leadership positions, including serving as a cluster educator, leading teacher, assistant principal, and director of professional learning. He also served as the executive director of Hawker Brownlow Professional Learning Solutions and the managing director of Solution Tree Australia.

Kylie Lipscombe is a senior lecturer, researcher, and associate academic program director of postgraduate studies in educational leadership at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. She is also president of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders. With twenty years of experience in education organizations, she has supported the implementation of PLCs within a variety of Australian education systems and schools. Dr. Lipscombe is adept at guiding schools through the rigorous process of reculturing as a PLC, acting as a school-based critical friend and coach along the way.

Colin Sloper is former director of the Centre for Professional Learning. He has been a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in government schools for the past thirty-five years. In the course of his career, he has been involved in the establishment of five new state government schools, spending the last seven years as principal at Pakenham Springs Primary School in Victoria. Because of his leadership and collaborative work with the school community, Pakenham Springs became the first recognized model of a PLC in Australia.

Janelle Wills, PhD, is the lead training associate for High Reliability Schools, The Art & Science of Teaching, and other Marzano topics.

Personally trained by Robert J. Marzano, Dr. Wills specializes in longterm school improvement efforts. With over thirty years of teaching and leadership experience across all sectors of schooling, she has a strong commitment to continued learning that enables her to remain both informed and innovative in her approach. In her previous role as director of teaching and learning at Independent Schools Queensland, Dr. Wills was responsible for leading a team of accomplished professionals with specialist knowledge across a range of areas.