PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

What is a PLC?

Professional Learning Communities involve work done in groups and as a faculty, in which we are all viewed, by others and by ourselves, as leaders and in which we all share the responsibility for student learning (our emphasis). While we are certainly all different people, having our own opinions and thoughts on most subjects, we share the basic values and norms that determine how decisions are made in the hallways, the offices, and the classrooms. And inherent in those shared values and norms is the need for some common practices and feedback on instructional strengths and weaknesses. In other words, PLCs are what happens when a school staff studies, works, plans, and takes action collectively on behalf of increased learning for students.
           
PROFESSIONAL:
            We have been trained and are experienced in an area of study. We are continually seeking to learn current practices and principles related to that area of study. We adhere to a high standard of practice and ethical behavior related to our area of expertise.

LEARNING:
            We are always seeking new learning opportunities for ourselves relative to our area of expertise and relative to our interpersonal skills so as to better relate to our colleagues.

COMMUNITY:
            We are a group of individuals with shared goals, concerns, and aspirations. We are individuals who care for and about each other and assist each other in achieving their individual and collective potential.

Our faculty has been aligned into nine PLCs:

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