Tracy Unified School District
Leadership Institute – “Leading
the Transformation”
Breakout Session
What is a PLC Leader?
July/August 2014
Dr. Paul F. Ezen
Consultant
Professional Learning
Communities
Professional Learning
Community (PLC)
“…a group of people who share a concern, a
set of problems, or passion about a topic,
who deepen their knowledge and expertise
in this area by interacting on an ongoing
basis.”
—Wenger, McDermott, & Snyder, 2002
Discussion vs. Discourse
• At your table discuss the difference between these two
words.
• Come to consensus about the difference.
• Select a person to report out
• Each table reports to the whole group.
Assumptions of Professional
Learning Communities
• We can make a
difference. Our school
can be more effective.
• Improving our people is
the key to improving our
school.
• Significant school
improvement will impact
teaching and learning.
—DuFour and Eaker, 1998
PLC Best Practices
Shared common
vision
Collaborative
culture
Results-oriented
Professional
Learning
Community
Action-oriented
Collective inquiry
Supportive environment
Outcomes of
Learning Communities
Benefits for Teachers
Benefits for Students
 Decreased isolation
 Shared commitment
 Collective responsibility
 Higher morale
 Better understanding
 Smaller achievement gaps
 Decreased absenteeism
 Increased academic success
Establishing Learning
Communities
Critical Questions for PLCs
(The Logic Train)
1. What should students know and be able
to do as a result of this course, class, or
grade level?
2. How will we know that the students are
learning?
3. How do we respond when students do not
learn?
4. How do we respond when students learn
more?
The Logic Train
• At your tables discuss and create the logic train for a
PLC (created or Real)
• Go back to the sequence of questions and answer
them in order based on the PLC you selected.
• Prepare to report out from each table.
Building Relationships and
Improving Student
Performance
Supportive Environments
The Leaders Responsibility
Available
resources
Good
communication
structures
Time to meet
and share
Supportive
culture
Successful
PLC
Respect and
trust
Provide Support Structures
 Time to meet and share
 Good communication structures
 Available resources
 Supportive culture
 Respect and trust
Barriers to Supportive Structures
• What are the Barriers to creating a supportive structure
in your building(s)?
• Discuss at your table.
• Create a list of the top three Barriers.
• Report the list to the whole group.
Seven Norms of Collaboration
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Pausing
Paraphrasing
Probing
Putting Ideas on the Table
Paying Attention
Presuming Positive Attention
Pursuing a Balance
Seven Norms of Collaboration
1.
Pausing
a.
b.
c.
d.
After a question
After someone speaks
For personal reflection
As a collective pause
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Seven Norms of Collaboration
2.
Paraphrasing
a.
b.
c.
d.
“You seem to be saying…”
“In other words…”
“So you think that…”
“You’re suggesting that…”
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Seven Norms of Collaboration
3.
Probing
a.
b.
c.
d.
“Could you expand upon…”
“I’m wondering whether…”
“Please tell us more about…”
“Do you have an example of…”
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Seven Norms of Collaboration
4.
Putting Ideas on the Table
a.
b.
c.
d.
“This might be one way to…”
“I’m just thinking out loud…”
“Suppose we tried…”
“One approach might be…”
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Seven Norms of Collaboration
5.
Paying Attention
a.
b.
c.
d.
To how things are said
To the learning styles of colleagues
To how others are responding
To physical cues
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Seven Norms of Collaboration
6.
Presuming Positive Intentions
a.
b.
c.
d.
My team wants me to succeed.
People want to hear my ideas.
I have something to offer.
We can work well together.
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Seven Norms of Collaboration
7.
Pursuing a Balance
a.
b.
c.
d.
Advocate for your ideas.
Advocate for others’ ideas.
Question your own ideas.
Question others’ ideas.
Based on Garmston & Wellman
Observing Discussion
1. Assign one person to be the
observer.
2. Conduct a table-group discussion
on one of these topics.
•
•
•
Including teacher trainees in PLCs
Teaching writing in math class
Celebrating student success
3. Discuss the observer’s findings.
Last Thoughts
“Professional learning communities
support a culture of self-improvement
through the identification and sharing of
best practices of highly effective teachers,
mentorship, and peer collaboration.”
—The Daggett System for Effective Instruction,
p. 124
Action Goals for PLC Leaders
1. Benefits of our PLC
2. Discourse vs Discussion
3. Barriers to Structures that Support PLC’s
4. Norms I needs to works on and train people in.