US/Global 
CAN
Evidence of Excellence
Canisteo-Greenwood Central School District
Canisteo, New York
After two years, ELA proficiency rose to 
Demographics
2 schools / 923 students / 100% free or reduced lunch / 16% Special needs / 61% Economically disadvantaged
97% White / 1% Black / 1% Hispanic or Latino / 1% Multiracial
Challenge
After years of intermittent PLC at Work® implementation and a turnover in superintendency, Canisteo-Greenwood School District faced inconsistent instructional practices and gaps in teacher collaboration. “There was never a straight path,” says Superintendent Thomas Crook. “I came in during turnover, and we needed consistency in conversation, training, and community buy-in.”
When Crook attended a PLC institute in St. Louis in June 2019, he returned with renewed focus, but COVID-19 slowed progress. During the pandemic, many planned initiatives were paused, and in-person collaboration became difficult. By 2021, however, Crook and his team began refocusing on the work, providing professional development for staff, and seeking out guidance from PLC experts to regain momentum.
Implementation
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Superintendent attends PLC at Work Institute in St. Louis |
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Canisteo-Greenwood Central joins the New York PLC at Work Cohort |
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Staff attends multiple PLC at Work Institutes in Rochester and Syracuse |
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Training begins with Solution Tree associates: Mike Mattos, Eric Twadell, Maria Nielsen, and Janel Keating |
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Staff attends 15-Day Challenge Workshop in Syracuse |
The district prioritized professional development to ensure all faculty implemented the PLC process with integrity. Working closely with Solution Tree associates, including Mike Mattos, Maria Nielsen, Eric Twadell, and Janel Keating, staff engaged in training focused on the four critical questions of a PLC at Work, as well as identifying and aligning essential standards. Crook explains, “It just makes so much sense. How could you not, as an educator, be asking these questions and taking in this information?”
Convincing staff that a scheduling change was the right move to make time for Monday collaborative team meetings was another hurdle. “Starting later on Mondays was a tough ask,” he notes, “but now the mindset is, this is who we are and what we do.”
They also leveraged the New York PLC at Work Cohorts and workshops to guide new staff. Guiding coalition members attended multiple institutes and participated in Zoom sessions with PLC associate Eric Twadell on effective grading practices, bringing strategies back to their teams. Board members also actively participated in collaborative meetings to observe and engage. “We continually touch base on how we link the work we are doing,” Crook emphasizes, noting the importance of alignment and intentionality.
Literacy was another focus area. Teams engaged in the 15-Day Challenge with Maria Nielsen, developing common formative assessments, unit plans, and intervention strategies.
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Superintendent attends PLC at Work Institute in St. Louis |
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Canisteo-Greenwood Central joins the New York PLC at Work Cohort |
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Staff attends multiple PLC at Work Institutes in Rochester and Syracuse |
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Training begins with Solution Tree associates: Mike Mattos, Eric Twadell, Maria Nielsen, and Janel Keating |
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Staff attends 15-Day Challenge Workshop in Syracuse |
The change in conversations about student learning has been the biggest impact. Team leaders are strong, and the culture is really good.
Results
The district’s PLC implementation and literacy focus have made a positive impact on school culture and student outcomes. Canisteo-Greenwood Elementary earned Model PLC at Work status, reflecting integrity and consistent follow-through. Promising practices are evident at the high school as well. Crook shares, “The change in conversations about student learning has been the biggest impact. Team leaders are strong, and the culture is really good.”
Post-COVID intervention strategies increased districtwide ELA proficiency from 70% to a peak of 88%, and it currently stands at 84%—an upward trend that has largely been sustained. Teacher collaboration strengthened, staff engagement increased, and the district is recognized regionally as a model for professional learning. Crook concludes, “It’s about kids growing and benefiting from the education they are receiving.”
Through strategic professional development, focused PLC work, and intentional literacy supports, Canisteo-Greenwood School District has created a thriving culture of collaboration, improved student learning, and sustainable instructional excellence.
English Language Arts Proficiency 2021–2025
Canisteo-Greenwood Elementary School
Canisteo-Greenwood High School
Why PLC AT WORK®?
Professional learning communities are schools that empower educators to work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve.
Learn more about PLC at Work® Learn more on AllThingsPLC.info
Please note that all Evidence of Excellence stories, and the data and people therein, represent solely the timeframe in which Solution Tree actively worked with the school or district and the timeframe in which the school or district committed to implementing processes and practices set forth by Solution Tree. Building and district leaders and staff featured in Evidence of Excellence stories may have changed since the stories were published.
