69ý

Opinion
Professional Development Opinion

Professional Growth—High School

By Linda Emm — December 22, 2006 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Educational specialist, 69ý of Choice
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Consultant, National School Reform Faculty

Are we naïve if we imagine schools can build professional learning communities with teacher-directed professional development? Many say “yes.” I disagree. But it won’t happen by accident—PLCs must be designed and implemented strategically.

PLCs have many names but share certain characteristics. They recognize that teachers come to the table with lots of knowledge and are best positioned to analyze what their students need most. They shatter the norm of isolation by embracing the idea that “all of us know more than any one of us.”

See Also

So why isn’t everyone doing this kind of work? It isn’t easy or quick. And it demands a share of education’s scarcest resource: time.

We explored the time issue during a summer demonstration project in Miami-Dade. Supported by a PLC coach, teachers worked half-days with students, then met to examine their work and fine-tune instruction. We showed that, given enough wisely used time, PLCs can rapidly improve skills and accelerate learning.

Most schools are unlikely to adopt our experimental schedule during the school year, but here’s where being strategic is important.

In Miami-Dade, some high schools have adopted an eight-period schedule that includes one period for collaborative work between teachers. Team leaders help groups use this time effectively, and they prepare by spending five days in training, interspersed with opportunities to practice new skills under the guidance of specialists like myself. This leadership training cycle is critical to sustaining PLC growth.

I’ve seen PLCs transform teacher performance. Building these communities is exhausting, messy work—but what meaningful change isn’t? The payoff is twofold: Teachers feel more in charge of their work, and students flourish because teachers are constantly reflecting on ways to teach them better.

A version of this article appeared in the January 01, 2007 edition of Teacher Magazine as Professional Growth

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69ý
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Professional Development Spotlight Spotlight on Professional Development
This Spotlight will help you explore innovative approaches to PD that prioritize teacher needs and foster meaningful learning experiences.
Professional Development Opinion It Takes a Village to Design the Best Professional Development
How to bring a community-based leadership to your professional learning this year.
Brooklyn Joseph
4 min read
A team huddle. Cooperation. Game plan.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Professional Development Opinion I’m a Math Educator. Here’s How Teacher PD Falls Short
Yes, professional development is valuable. But improvements must be made if teachers and students are to receive its full benefits.
Shakiyya Bland
5 min read
A diverse group of teachers communicate using math symbols. Teamwork, Meeting, Expressing Opinions.
Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Professional Development Teachers Need PD to Make Competency-Based Learning Work. What That Looks Like
Can teachers use microcredentials to become skilled at teaching in a way they probably never experienced as students?
9 min read
A collage of faceless educators with books, chalkboard with equations, an open laptop, math symbols and computer icons all around them.
Nadia Radic for Education Week