SPS PLC Overview Where are we at with the PLC process Structure of SPS PLC Teams Essential Outcomes & Common Formative Assessments Time for Teams

SPS HISTORY WITH PLC Summer 2013: 19 Staff attended 3 day PLC institute School Year: Established District PLC Leadership team Met twice monthly and established Norms, Vision Statement, Mission Statement, District Commitments, Developed Staff Commitment Survey, and established short and long-term goals. January 2014: PLC training for district staff (1/2 day) Spring quarter: Initiated early release Wednesdays Summer 2014: 25 Staff attended 3 day PLC institute : Early releases every Wednesday

What is a Professional Learning Community? It is about building the collective capacity to create a professional learning community within a school community that is focused on LEARNING FOR ALL.

Photo: Bourachdene, Flight 1549, Daily News 2009 “Ensuring that each student is taught is not enough. PLCs are taking what we already know and turning it into actions that ensure each child’s learning regardless of the circumstances.

District PLC Beginnings MISSIONVISIONVALUESGOALS WHY? Why do we exist WHAT? What must our school become to accomplish our purpose? HOW? How must we behave to achieve our vision? HOW WILL WE MARK OUR PROGRESS? FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE COMPELLING FUTURE COLLECTIVE COMMITMENTS TARGETS AND TIMELINES Clarifies Priorities and Sharpens Focus Gives DirectionGuides BehaviorEstablishes Priorities

VISION WHAT? What must our school become to accomplish our purpose? Can you describe the school we are trying to create? What would our school look like if it were a great place for students? What would it look like if it were a great place for teachers? It is 5 years from now and we have achieved our vision as a school. In what ways are we different? Describe what is going on it terms of practices, procedures, relationships, results and climate. Imagine we have been given sixty seconds on the nightly news to clarify the vision of our district to the community. What do we want to say? COMPELLING FUTURE GIVES DIRECTION

DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT The Sidney School District is a professional learning community with the mission of collaborating for the academic, emotional, and social growth of each student through quality and purposeful educational experiences in and out of the classroom. The District and community will share in the responsibilities of nurturing students along the path to thrive as productive life-long learners in a culturally rich world. WHY DO WE EXIST? What is our fundamental purpose? Why was this school built? What have we been brought here to do together? Does the concept of public education for all children mean that all students shall learn or merely that they will be required to attend school? What happens in our school or district when a student experiences difficulty in learning? FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE CLARIFIES PRIORITIES AND SHARPENS FOCUS

PLCs ARE ABOUT “Changing the Odds” Learning for All At the heart is a focus and a commitment to the learning of each student Learning is a constant and everything else is a variable—time, resources, funding….. A Culture of Collaboration “A systematic process in which we work together, interdependently, to analyze and impact professional practice in order to improve our individual and collective results.” -DuFour, DuFour & Eaker Educators can no longer function as if they are working in a one room school house...to much is changing for students and for us as educators. Focus on Results The basic premise is one in which we must produce dramatically improved results that identify students who need additional time and support.

Four Critical Questions 1. What is it we expect kids to learn? 2. How will we know when they have learned it? 3. How will we respond when they don’t learn? 4. How will we respond when they already know it?

AreaSidney Public Schools Commitment Statements Staff SPS is committed to implementation of quality academic standards through the PLC process to ensure student achievement. Staff SPS is committed to maintaining a passion for teaching and compassion for each student. Environment SPS is committed to common behavioral expectations to provide a safe, supportive environment where respect for diversity is modeled by everyone. InstructionSPS is committed to actively engaging all students in a variety of learning activities. Co-Curricular SPS is committed to providing opportunities for co-curricular activities that further develop life-skills. Communication SPS is committed to maintaining open, effective communication with staff, students, and community in a timely and consistent manner. Data SPS is committed to the purposeful use of data to inform and advance student learning in all areas. Curriculum and Policy SPS is committed to providing rigorous curricula at all levels and policies that direct instruction and student learning. Students SPS is committed to providing students an education that instills a desire for life- long learning. Sidney Public Schools Commitments: “How must we behave to create the school that will achieve our purpose?”

Learning for all Every Student Matters—they are our customers and the future “Children are the gifts we send to the future—how shall we send them?” Teachers are the cornerstone to effective learning and effective teaching in every classroom is critical to creating meaningful reform (Marzano, 2009). Teaching is complex—development of instructional skills must continually be cultivated through collaboration and Prof. Development. Present day accountability—”nothing ever improves if it is not followed by action.” Action = SMART Goals, Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum, Common Formative Assessment, Collaborative Teaming, and Effective use of Data.

SHORT-TERM GOALS ST-1  Establish HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL building level teams in all instructional areas by the end of 1 st quarter of the ( ) school term that work to achieve the collective purpose of Learning for All through strong collaborative relationships. ST-2  Build understanding with the school community concerning the PLC process through a monthly update to the papers and on District’s web page. Long Term Goals LT-1  Identify within all curricular areas essential outcomes at each grade level LT-2  Develop methods for the measuring of student achievement through data obtained from common formative assessments. LT-3  Establish district-wide understanding of the PLC process by building a district-wide shared understanding of PLC principles, practices, concepts, and common vocabulary with an emphasis on the four critical questions and how they interconnect and support each other.

Einstein said, “Continuing to do the same thing expecting different results is insanity.” HOPE Honesty and Humility—need to be honest about our data, knowledge and skills, and the results. Options and Openness—there are many ways to learn, some better—some worse. Be open of the desired outcome, not attached to how you get there Patience and Persistence—Patience is not a NORM in our culture. Give yourself time and stay focused on learning and we will find the answers Efficacy and Enthusiasm—Teach efficacy/staff efficacy is a major driver in student learning—your values are a critical source of energy, enthusiasm and direction. Believe you can make a difference and love what you are doing—if not, you then have to question, “Why education?” Source: Hord, Roussin &Sommers, Guiding Professional Learning Communities

It may begin at home, but ultimately, it ends with us. SPS District Mission Statement The Sidney School District is a professional learning community with the mission of collaborating for the academic, emotional, and social growth of each student through quality and purposeful educational experiences in and out of the classroom. The District and community will share in the responsibilities of nurturing students along the path to thrive as productive life-long learners in a culturally rich world. Never mistake motion for ACTION – Ernest Hemingway