Professional Learning Communities

Jeff Byrnes is the current assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in the St. Helens School District in St. Helens, Oregon. With over 25 years of experience in education, Jeff specializes in the implementation of professional learning communities and multitiered systems of supports. He is certified to lead in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® and Response to Intervention (RTI) at Work™. He has also served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Arizona and Washington.

Stephanie Discher serves as the director of elementary education for Wasatch County School District in Utah. With a sincere passion for empowering educators, she is dedicated to fostering a deep understanding of and appreciation for the professional learning community process.

Brad Rogers is currently the principal at Cadott Elementary School in Wisconsin. He has been an educator for 28 years and specializes in helping schools implement collaborative processes that lead to high levels of learning.

David (Cal) Callaway, EdD, is the deputy head of school at the International Community School of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. He has worked in international education since 1998 and has served as both a teacher and an administrator.

Nathan Manley serves as the assistant superintendent of instruction in the Neosho School District. During his nearly 20 years of experience, Nathan has also been a classroom teacher and principal, leading the development of five different professional learning community school recognitions.

Scott M. Beattie is the assistant superintendent for instruction of the Windsor Central School District in Windsor, New York. With over 15 years experience, he specializes in professional learning community and Community School implementation, technology integration, and K–12 career pathway development.

Rob J. Meyer, EdD, is an experienced educator currently serving as the director of secondary teaching and learning at Monona Grove School District in Wisconsin. With over 20 years in education, he previously served as a teacher of social studies, an assistant principal at the secondary level, a principal at the primary level, and a 4K–12 C&I director.

James Rawls serves as a principal in a large metropolitan school district in Georgia. His passion for education is evident through his experience of more than 20 years in the field.

As educators and leaders across the nation grapple with the challenge of changing policies, practices, and procedures to ensure high levels of learning for all students, the inability to effectively change the mindsets of colleagues, faculty, and staff is proving to be the biggest hurdle of all. Hence, in order for systems to change, outlooks will also need to change.

Meagan Rhoades is the former district assessment coordinator for White River School District in Buckley, Washington. She worked in this district for more than 20 years.