Professional Learning Communities at Work®

Explore how teacher teams can ensure equitable literacy learning so that every student masters essential reading standards. Jacqueline Heller and Paula Maeker, authors of Literacy in a PLC at Work®: Guiding Teams to Get Going and Get Better in K–6 Reading, will help literacy educators navigate the teaching, learning, assessment, and feedback cycle of reading through the lens of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work.

PLC concepts resonate with most educators, but making collaborative learning work in small schools or for singleton teachers can be challenging. In this webinar, participants explore three models for creating meaningful professional learning teams—vertical teaming, cross-curricular teaming, and supporting roles— while reviewing common structural barriers that prevent singletons from joining collaborative teams and exploring how others have overcome similar challenges.

Join Janel Keating to learn proven strategies to break down silos, unify teams around shared goals, and drive achievement for every student. Experience inspiring real-world examples of school board leadership and dynamic teacher teams working together to monitor data and improve learning outcomes.

Small habits can make a big difference. Uncover the role, responsibilities, assumptions, and mindsets of effective teacher team leaders, and explore simple, go-to moves and strategies that transform team collaboration in a Professional Learning Community at Work®. This session equips teacher team leaders with clear priorities, collaborative mindsets, and practical tools to elevate team effectiveness.

Based upon their book Taking Action, internationally-recognized intervention experts Dr. Luis Cruz and Mike Mattos will discuss three foundational steps needed to create a highly effective MTSS process. This webinar is designed to support administrators, coaches, interventionist staff, classroom educators and special education teachers.

A high-performing school district that functions as a professional learning community (PLC) reflects thoughtful alignment and integration of the PLC process by the superintendent and board of directors, central office, individual schools, and teacher teams. While highlighting the efforts of highly successful school districts, Janel Keating will describe how districts organize and align at each level to implement PLC concepts and practices systemwide.

When educators collaborate with clarity and purpose, Tier 1 instruction gets stronger—and all students benefit. This webinar showcases how schools across New York State are enhancing Tier 1 instruction through the PLC at Work® process. Participants will explore how collaborative teams design and use Common Formative Assessments (CFAs) to gather evidence of instructional effectiveness and make informed adjustments. The session highlights the power of job-embedded professional learning that occurs when educators work in teams to respond collectively to student needs. Attendees will also learn how building networks across schools accelerates improvement by sharing strategies and successes.

In the first session of the Mind the Gaps series, intervention expert Mike Mattos will discuss the three essential academic outcomes of an effective multitiered system of support and four critical actions that leaders should take to embed these supports in the school’s master schedule.

As educators and leaders across the nation grapple with the challenge of changing policies, practices, and procedures to ensure high levels of learning for all students, the inability to effectively change the mindsets of colleagues, faculty, and staff is proving to be the biggest hurdle of all. Hence, in order for systems to change, outlooks will also need to change.

Join Dr. Timothy S. Stuart as he makes the case for professional learning communities in international schools. He demonstrates the positive impact this structure has had on student learning, professional growth, and school culture.