Demystifying Professional Learning Communities

School Leadership at Its Best

Foreword by Shirley M. Hord Contributions by Jesus Abrego, D'Ette Fly Cowan, Gayle Moller, Dianne F. Olivier, Anita M. Pankake, Linda Roundtree Edited by Kristine Kiefer Hipp, Jane Bumpers Huffman

Publication date:

16 May 2010

Length of book:

166 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

Dimensions:

242x162mm
6x10"

ISBN-13: 9781607090496

The purpose of this book is to clearly define an approach to school improvement that uses professional learning community (PLC) practices to achieve school improvement and success for every student. This book offers information, examples and case studies to clarify the concept of a PLC, to respond to critical issues in schools, and to support educational leaders in addressing the important mandates of accountability and school improvement. As school leaders proactively lead efforts to create learning communities, their schools, districts, and staff will incorporate knowledge, skills, and practices that focus on teaching and learning for all. The authors' findings will assist leaders, change agents, policy makers, and university faculty in guiding schools toward creating and maintaining PLCs as they sustain school improvement for student learning.
Education as a profession is and always has been in a constant state of change. The establishment of communities of learning within our schools is essential if we are to meet the demands and challenges of an ever changing educational landscape. Yet, to establish communities of learning is not enough. We must learn to maintain organizational learning in our schools. In Demystifying Professional Learning Communities, Huffman and Hipp provide educational leaders with the knowledge and tools to not only successfully implement Professional Learning Communities, but to sustain them.