Laurie TeBrake

Professional Learning Communities and School Success

Best Practices in Instructional Leadership (December 2006)

Laurie TeBrake, principal
Oak Grove Elementary, Bloomington

The development of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) as a premise for enhancing student achievement is not a new phenomenon. Studies have indicated the benefits and importance of professionals who are experts in their field, pursuing advanced training and remaining current in an evolving knowledge base through collaborative investigation. The goal is to provide an opportunity for mutual cooperation, emotional support, and personal growth in order to achieve things that cannot be achieved in isolation.

An environment for achievement
The efficacy of PLCs in improving student achievement is one aspect of ongoing research by well-known educators such as Mike Schmoker, Douglas Reeves, Robert Marzano, and Richard DuFour. So how can schools with more than 48 percent of students who are considered disadvantaged, make gains year after year above and beyond schools with similar demographics?

• Imagine an organization that has a passion for learning and the desire for an enduring influence when it comes to teacher and student learning.
• Imagine a structure of professionals working together as a group in collaborative teams that share a common purpose.
• Imagine a purpose with a shared mission, vision, values, and goals.
• Imagine a focus on student learning, data study, common assessment, inquiry into “best practice,” and understanding of current reality and the learners at our doorstep every day.

Imagine these things and one can foresee a school, like almost any other school in America, that can beat the odds and increase student achievement.

I joined the Oak Grove Elementary staff as principal this year. It was immediately apparent that the idea of PLCs in this building and in Bloomington is a focus and a priority. PLCs in the Bloomington Public Schools are beginning their third year. PLCs enable teachers to collaboratively examine their practices and procedures to improve their instruction and to maintain an unrelenting focus on student learning.

Previous principals have worked diligently with the staff to create an environment that supports teacher teams working together. Included in the support for PLCs is common prep time, staff development opportunities for teacher growth, staff meetings set aside for PLC time within each grade level and across grade levels, and finally teams made up of individuals who are willing to take action and make a difference. PLCs allow us to make dramatic progress almost exclusively on the basis of in-house expertise.

Developing PLC goals
The process of developing PLC goals for the 2006-2007 school year included creating continuous improvement goals for our building that aligned with the district strategic plan. The next step was to create action plans to meet building goals. Many of the action statements included a PLC SMART goal and a specific plan of action to meet the SMART goal within each department or grade level. As we designed our activities to meet each PLC SMART goal we took into consideration and planned for these necessary components: staff development to improve teacher learning, alignment to state standards, collaborative time to discuss instructional practice, review of student work, revision and creation of high quality assessment practices, and examination of student data in order to make sound instructional decisions. The overall goal of this work promotes and supports quality teaching and learning.

Is it magic?

Oak Grove Elementary is a Five Star school by Minnesota state-defined measurements. The school has been nominated for the NCLB Blue Ribbon School Award and will be recognized in December for the Minnesota Senator’s Award for Excellence in Education. However, as in years past, this year will continue to provide us with the challenge of increasing student achievement in a system that continues to raise the proficiency bar. We are faced with educational issues similar to what is happening across the country. I am proud to be the new principal of Oak Grove Elementary in Bloomington. It appears that some “magic” is happening here! At the core of this “magic” is the PLCs. I believe a difference is being made and as research suggests…it’s not magic, but a common sense approach as to what works in schools.