Full Description
"This series allows school principals to integrate theory and practice themselves, resulting in highly insightful and practical strategies that will make a difference in schools. Practitioners: lead thyselves!"
—Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
"Avoiding high-flown theory on the one hand and mere bullet points on the other, these books represent the best that highly expert leaders have to offer—intellectually informed ideas about how to deal with the compelling practical issues of principalship."
—Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Boston College
"This series of little volumes provides a valuable resource for new principals who would become accomplished instructional leaders and seasoned principals looking to strengthen their leadership capacity."
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center
"Addresses some of the most important challenges facing school leaders today. The authors bring a remarkable combination of deep, practical experience and academic sophistication to these challenges."
—Ken Leithwood, Professor
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Create a collaborative culture for increased student achievement!
Schools with professional learning communities (PLCs) benefit from significantly improved student achievement and a greater sense of shared purpose. This resource, part of the Leading Student Achievement series, provides principals with practical support to lead the development of PLCs in their schools. With step-by-step plans and hands-on strategies, this handbook guides principals through the process of building thriving PLCs by:
Defining the key attributes of PLCs
Explaining the principal's role in the process
Laying the foundation for shared mission, vision, values, and goals
Showing how to create a steering team, introduce the concept to staff, and develop teacher learning teams
Featuring professional development modules, case studies, and reproducibles that can be adapted to any school context, The Principal as Professional Learning Community Leader is an invaluable companion for school leaders at any level.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Building Professional Learning Communities
Why Professional Learning Communities?
The PLC Edifice: An Analogy
Feature: Reflection and Action Template
Summary
2. The Role of Principals in Leading Professional Learning Communities
Leadership Practices of the PLC Principal
Principal/Vice Principal Learning Teams
Feature: Reflection and Action Template
Summary
3. Planning for Professional Learning Communities
Collaborative Leadership: Creating the PLC Steering Team
PLC Snapshot Assessment
Setting Up a Tracking System
Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
Summary
4. Introducing Staff to Professional Learning Communities: Foundations
Laying the Foundations of a PLC
Feature: Professional Development Modules: Introducing Staff to PLCs
Guiding Questions
Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
Summary
5. Supporting Learning Teams: The Pillars
Learning Teams for Improving Student Achievement
The Four Pillars
Feature: Professional Development Module: PLC Learning Teams
Guiding Questions
Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
Summary
6. The Roof: Continuous Learning and Continuous Improvement
Reflection and Action
Celebration
Guiding Questions
Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
Summary
The Principal's Tool Kit
Professional Development Modules
Case Studies
Reproducibles
Glossary
References
Index
