Professional Learning Communities

When teams commit to collaborating to ensure high levels of learning for ALL students, a key critical step is to examine personal and systemic beliefs, policies, and practices to build a school and district culture where systems align. Focused on closing the gaps for students with identified needs, this session, designed for leaders of both general and special educators, provides an overview of the core concepts and associated practices to collaboratively support all learners and bring this vision to life.

This two-day workshop will highlight what leaders and teams do to improve their professional practice in an effort to help more students learn at higher levels.

This two-day workshop will highlight what leaders and teams do to improve their professional practice in an effort to help more students learn at higher levels.

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.

Kara Tidemann has successfully served for over 25 years in education. As a building leader she successfully led an underperforming school to high performance, earning Model PLC at Work® school status for demonstration of exceptional academic achievement over time.

During this 1-Day Workshop, participants will gain strategies for how to build better parent engagement and collaboration with your school community to better support all of your students. Each participant will learn about a “Parentship” and how to purposely build a guiding coalition to move this work forward in their schools. Participants will also be given several easy-to-implement strategies for their own collaborative teams and school communities along with time and tools to think through that process.

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.

Obie Leff has more than 30 years of expertise in education and leadership. He currently serves as director and principal of Twin Rivers Charter School, a 2024 Model PLC at Work® and National Blue Ribbon School.

Rebecca Williams, executive director of academic programs for Fulton County Schools, has over 15 years of instructional leadership experience. She led Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, Georgia, enhancing student achievement and transforming school culture.

Lori Curtis has over a decade of professional learning systems experience and currently serves as the executive director of learning, instruction, and technology in the White River School District, a Model PLC district in Buckley, Washington.