Professional Learning Communities at Work®

The impact of COVID-19 will have a lasting effect on every facet of our society. Very few institutions were more disrupted than schools. The pandemic affected staffing, funding, morale, and the continuity of student learning

Maria Espinoza, EdM, is the principal of Freeport Elementary in Freeport, Texas. With 17 years of experience, she specializes in early childhood education and implementing the professional learning community process to help underperforming schools.

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.

Denise Houghton has more than 27 years of experience in education and 18 years in leading teams of educators to ensure students are learning at high levels. She has served as a teacher, instructional facilitator, and education consultant working at elementary, intermediate, and high school levels.

Join Janel Keating for an exclusive webinar that has the potential to elevate your district’s educational journey. Discover an immersive professional learning project aimed at implementing PLC at Work® districtwide for equity and enhanced outcomes. Gain understanding of the transformative impact through firsthand experiences shared by current participants, showcasing how the project affects educational processes, practices, and student outcomes.

With over 25 years of experience in elementary education, including five years in early learning, Janel Ross specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports at the elementary level.

In this session, participants will explore innovative strategies and practical tools designed to challenge advanced learners through extended and personalized learning opportunities. Attendees will examine how flexible grouping, tiered assignments, and student choice can transform their classrooms into dynamic spaces that promote deep engagement and continuous learning. By embedding these strategies into their PLC processes, participants will leave equipped to elevate their team's impact on all students.

The impact of Covid-19 will have a long-lasting effect on every facet of our society. Very few institutions were more disrupted than schools. The pandemic affected staffing, funding, morale, and the continuity of student learning. Participants explore the history of the field of education and examine why the tenants of the PLC at Work process were important before the global pandemic and why they are even more important after the pandemic. This is not the time to back away from the PLC at Work process; this is the time to reinforce its foundation.

Despite our best efforts, progress remains elusive with traditional remediation. It's time to rethink the approach. This webinar explores acceleration—a proactive, strengths-based model that empowers all students to achieve at or above grade level. This isn't just about closing gaps; it's about building a future where every student thrives.