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.

Reboot, energize, and simplify the professional learning communities (PLC) process with The 15-Day Challenge! This practical guide brings the PLC process to life through seven simple unit design steps, providing a clear road map for creating a guaranteed and viable curriculum. Designed for results, this challenge helps educators navigate the PLC journey with clarity and impact.

Barbara Phillips is an educational presenter and researcher from upstate New York with over 20 years of experience in public education. She specializes in effective instruction and leveraging teacher strengths to maximize student achievement and learning.

Rusty Taylor has been a professional educator since 1997, serving as a science teacher, middle school assistant principal, and principal at both the middle and high school levels.

Bo Ryan is principal of the Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He is passionate about building and sustaining professional learning communities (PLCs) and has led two different schools to Model PLC at Work® certification.

Dr. Julia “Jai” Wilson is an assistant principal for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. She has been an educator for 27 years and specializes in building PLCs from the ground up, relationship building, and school culture.

Dr. Amy Williams brings over 25 years of experience in education, specializing in fostering inclusive practices and systems-level change to improve student outcomes.

Richard L. Pease has more than 30 years of experience as an education leader, serving as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, university professor, middle and high school principal, principal mentor, and district leader.

Kathryn Morem, EdD, has more than 25 years of educational experience, serving as an elementary school principal and director of professional development in Florida, as well as a Spanish/ESL teacher in Arizona and Switzerland.

Tara Fulton is the principal at Clute Intermediate School in Clute, Texas. Tara has served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary and secondary school levels. She is passionate about professional learning communities.