The purpose of this book is to clearly define an approach to school improvement that uses professional learning community (PLC) practices to achieve school improvement and success for every student. This book offers information, examples and case studies to clarify the concept of a PLC, to respond to critical issues in schools, and to support educational leaders in addressing the important mandates of accountability and school improvement. As school leaders proactively lead efforts to create learning communities, their schools, districts, and staff will incorporate knowledge, skills, and practices that focus on teaching and learning for all. The authors' findings will assist leaders, change agents, policy makers, and university faculty in guiding schools toward creating and maintaining PLCs as they sustain school improvement for student learning.

The purpose of this book is to clearly define an approach to school improvement that uses professional learning community (PLC) practices to achieve school improvement and success for every student. This book offers information, examples and case studies to clarify the concept of a PLC, to respond to critical issues in schools, and to support educational leaders in addressing the important mandates of accountability and school improvement. As school leaders proactively lead efforts to create learning communities, their schools, districts, and staff will incorporate knowledge, skills, and practices that focus on teaching and learning for all. The authors' findings will assist leaders, change agents, policy makers, and university faculty in guiding schools toward creating and maintaining PLCs as they sustain school improvement for student learning.

This important work documents and examines evidence of efforts taking place in rural, urban, and suburban Pre-K-12 schools that are actively engaged in creating professional learning communities (PLCs). Literature is reviewed that defines and identifies the distinguishing dimensions of PLCs. A five-year, federally funded research study is explained including the methodology and demographics of the six study schools and a synthesis of the 64 interviews. A PLC organizer (PLCO) is introduced, which realigns with Shirley Hord's original 1997 research. The organizer provides the framework to explain the five PLC dimensions and related critical attributes. The PLCO also merges Fullan's model, Phases of Change (1985), which includes initiation, implementation, and institutionalization. The authors provide extensive evidence of the progressive development of a PLC from initiation to implementation using exemplars and non-exemplars from interviews that either hinder or facilitate creating and sustaining PLCs. A new assessment tool, the Professional Learning Community Assessment (PLCA), is also presented and can be used for diagnosis and evaluation of schools as they work toward school reform efforts. Readers are also presented with information that connects professional learning community work to a new approach to school improvement. Five case studies are included that can be used in schools and university classrooms for the purpose of engaging educators in reflection, open dialogue, problem finding, and problem solving. This first-hand documented information provides readers with unique issues as they wrestle with the challenges of transforming schools into organizations that meet diverse students needs. Lessons learned from this problem-based learning can easily transfer to the readers' own experiences and schools. The authors conclude by highlighting significant findings, reviewing the most recent related research that addresses sustaining such efforts, and offering suggestions for school leaders to

Expertise in every classroom should be the norm, not the exception. We have all had that magical teacher, who we remember years later. We remember how this teacher made us believe we could do anything. The mythical experts exist and have much to teach us in our quest to build a powerhouse education system. Unfortunately, forty years of research and over 25 years of reform models have led to few changes in the teaching profession and in the overall outcomes in education. Both national and international research demonstrates expertise in teaching can be clearly defined and developed. Countries around the world have successfully revamped their systems to develop and support expert teachers. While we grapple with failed value-added models and are beginning to understand linkage to single achievement test scores leaves out the impact teachers have upon the students, peers, and the culture as a whole. We have erected barriers in the form of scripted curricula, overuse of testing, and failed professional development models. Yet some teachers overcome all the barriers and develop expertise. These teachers find avenues of development either in small pockets of peers or individually. While other countries are developing experts in mass numbers, the United States is creating such teachers in very, small pockets. Examining the thinking processes and practice of these teachers offers a glimpse into what we should desire in every classroom in every school. This book bridges both research and practical elements. We believe expert teachers desire both. We often discuss the disconnect between research and practice. This book is intended to bridge both academic expectations and practitioner expectations. We believe the academic community must make research accessible and user-friendly to practitioners and practitioners should be at the forefront of research discussions. We must blend the ivory towers of academia with the daily work in our schools if we are to create world class systems. Expert teachers are both academic researchers and critical practitioners. Reform movements are showing little progress. We need to redefine the profession.

Expertise in every classroom should be the norm, not the exception. We have all had that magical teacher, who we remember years later. We remember how this teacher made us believe we could do anything. The mythical experts exist and have much to teach us in our quest to build a powerhouse education system. Unfortunately, forty years of research and over 25 years of reform models have led to few changes in the teaching profession and in the overall outcomes in education. Both national and international research demonstrates expertise in teaching can be clearly defined and developed. Countries around the world have successfully revamped their systems to develop and support expert teachers. While we grapple with failed value-added models and are beginning to understand linkage to single achievement test scores leaves out the impact teachers have upon the students, peers, and the culture as a whole. We have erected barriers in the form of scripted curricula, overuse of testing, and failed professional development models. Yet some teachers overcome all the barriers and develop expertise. These teachers find avenues of development either in small pockets of peers or individually. While other countries are developing experts in mass numbers, the United States is creating such teachers in very, small pockets. Examining the thinking processes and practice of these teachers offers a glimpse into what we should desire in every classroom in every school. This book bridges both research and practical elements. We believe expert teachers desire both. We often discuss the disconnect between research and practice. This book is intended to bridge both academic expectations and practitioner expectations. We believe the academic community must make research accessible and user-friendly to practitioners and practitioners should be at the forefront of research discussions. We must blend the ivory towers of academia with the daily work in our schools if we are to create world class systems. Expert teachers are both academic researchers and critical practitioners. Reform movements are showing little progress. We need to redefine the profession.