Creating and Supporting a Culture for Learning

Angela Perrotto, ChairEducational Leadership Department State University of New York at Oswego

Danielle Dehm, Principal/Adjunct ProfessorVictor Primary SchoolEducational Leadership DepartmentState University of New York at Oswego

“Creating and Supporting a Culture for Learning“

What does a leader support and/or initiate in order to foster a culture for learning among all staff?

What are professional learning communities and how do they operate?

What are ways to promote teacher leadership from within the organization?

How does a leader model differentiation with staff in order to have challenging, but respectful teacher growth goals?

Professional Learning Communities

Big Ideas: 1. They guarantee that students AND staff WILL learn!2. They create a collaborative culture3. They focus on goal oriented, data-based goals

Definition:A process by which educators, using data, work together to improve results.

Assumptions: Every educator could be in a different place in their learning and/or experience with any particular topic/ practice.

The key to improved student learning is continuous job-embedded learning for teachers.

An identified starting point is that which will have the greatest impact across the “system” (school, district, department, grade).

Continuum of Staff Learning

Simple Complex

$ O $$$$$$

1 teacher All staff together

Little time Multiple days

Outside of workday Within workday

Internal leadership/facilitator

Consultant

Observing a video Grand rounds

Leader directed Self directed

Giving information Learning with and from each other

Examples of “simple” opportunities for professional development which can incorporate elements of teacher leadership:

• Article review with guided questions• Staff meetings with specific focus and goals• Targeted book review on identified topic• Learning with and from each other during targeted meetings• Peer observations• Grand Rounds • Coaching• Mentoring• Supervision process

Where We Started in July… at Victor Primary School

• Identified, Sorted, Chose Priorities

• Initial Steps were created

• Agreement around the importance of committing to ‘learning for all’

Create Shared Knowledge

Baseplc PLC

Identify Priorities and Make

Commitments

PLC

Identify Application and Plan

Implementation

plc

Review Unit Assessments

PLC plc

Consider Next Unit

Review Assessment Data

plc

Plan for Student Support

plc

Progress and Problems

Where We Are Going From Here…

• One step at a time – we are in this together!

• Defined Target Area = MATH FLUENCY

• Working through the cycle – meeting each week as a team

“Creating and Supporting a Culture for Learning“

A leader supports and/or initiates a culture for learning among all staff by creating an environment for continuous improvement by looking at data with staff, identifying strengths and areas for growth, creating and articulating a process, finding the time, modeling, collaborating, and fostering leadership within.

“Creating and Supporting a Culture for Learning“

Professional learning communities are an example of creating and supporting a culture for learning which is noted in the Victor Primary example.

“Creating and Supporting a Culture for Learning“

Promote teacher leadership from within the organization by allowing teachers to facilitate book talks, article reviews, and leading plc discussions. Positions such as coaches, mentors and grade level/department chairs can be added to your school to enhance the role of teacher leaders.

“Creating and Supporting a Culture for Learning“

A leader models differentiation with staff by understanding that every teacher has a different starting point with their experience, understanding and learning needs on any given topic. The end goal is identified for all to strive towards regardless of their starting point. In this manner, both leader and teacher, are aware of the plan and the process to support both student and teacher growth.

Questions ?