Professional Learning Communities

Kyle is the principal of Powell Middle School in Powell, Wyoming. Prior to administration, he was an elementary teacher where he developed the passion for professional learning communities and the power behind building a strong culture and teamwork in a school.

Kristina Leckliter is an innovative educational leader who has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, reading specialist, and induction mentor specialist. She is also a professional learning community trainer for a Model Professional Learning Community at Work® district in Phoenix, Arizona.

Brooke Gantt serves as the Nixa Public Schools curriculum specialist. Her 23-year journey in public education encompasses roles as an urban and suburban classroom teacher, instructional coach, and education advocate.

Rachel Hankerson is currently the principal of Yulupa Elementary School. Rachel has emphasized the importance of working as a team to ensure continuous improvement through professional learning communities, and as a leader, she is able to break down large concepts into manageable chunks, ensuring that her staff feels confident.

Laurie Gelinas has more than 20 years of experience in education. She has implemented professional learning communities as a teacher, building learning coordinator, assistant principal and principal at the elementary level.

Josh Huwig currently serves as an elementary school principal with over 10 years of administrative experience. He has served as a high school teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and elementary school principal.

Dr. Kevin Weck is a dedicated educational leader, currently serving as the principal of Westmont High School in Illinois. With a background as a former social studies teacher, he brings a deep understanding of classroom dynamics and instructional strategies.

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.

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.

Dan Swatek is the elementary principal at Cardinal Elementary School in Nebraska, which he helped lead to Model PLC status in 2018. Throughout his nearly twenty-year career as an educator, he has also served as an assistant principal, middle school teacher, and head coach.