PLC Essentials
February 2019 Newsletter
The success of your PLC is truly grounded in the four pillars: "Mission, Vision, Values and Goals." As you meet with your PLC team members take a few minutes to reflect on the OCPS Vision and Mission and engage in a conversation on how your team is connecting to the district focus in your work.
- OCPS Vision - To be the top producer of successful students in the nation.
- OCPS Mission - To lead our students to success with the support and involvement of families and the community.
Consider taking a few moments to reacquaint yourself and your team with Start with Why to help guide the conversation around the work of your PLC.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF A PLC
- MISSION POSSIBLE (Mission) - When aligning the focus of your team to the district mission statement "embrace the growth mindset - the belief that students can cultivate their ability and talent through their own additional effort and the support of their educators" (DuFour et al., 2006, p.55).
- DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? (Vision) - "A powerful vision results in inspiration, aspiration and perspiration. It inspires people to rally around a greater purpose. It challenges educators to articulate the school they aspire to create. It leads to action, beginning with building shared knowledge of what it will take to reduce the gap between the current reality . . . and the school described in the vision" (Williams & Hierck, 2015).
- THERE IS NO "I" IN TEAM (Values) - Collaborative teams must tackle the collective commitments they will make and honor in order to achieve the shared vision for their school. "Clarity on this topic guides the . . . collaborative work of each staff member and outlines how each person can contribute to the improvement initiative" (Dufour, et al., 2006, p. 41).
- LET'S BE SMART ABOUT IT (Goals) - SMART Goals "represent an essential tool in develop powerful collaborative teams . . .nothing is more important in determining the effectiveness of a team than each member's understanding of and commitment to the achievement of results-oriented goals to which the group holds itself accountable" (DuFour, et al., 2007, pp.102-103).
BEST PRACTICES FOR PLC IMPLEMENTATION
As part of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) teachers engage in continuous improvement activities. When teachers attend professional development they are expected to engage in targeted professional growth opportunities and reflective practices, and implement knowledge and skills learned in professional development in the teaching and learning process.
The “PLC Essentials Implementation Look-Fors” document identifies possible key actions and next steps that may be used with your collaborative teams.
Celebrating PLC Success
Take a few minutes to complete the form linked here and your team might be featured in our next edition as we highlight the great work being done to improve student achievement.
Resources
Professional Learning Department
Email: lanee.wilcox@ocps.net
Website: https://www.ocps.net/departments/professional_learning_department
Phone: 407-317-3200