Maine ASCD

Beginning in April 2008, 15 weeks, extended over four months with break times built in.

What the Heck is a Professional Learning Community (PLC) Anyway?

Facilitator/Mentor: Kyle Rhoads, Ed.D.

Audience: Teachers, school committee members, assistant principals, teacher leaders, principals

Purpose: For educators in schools that have begun to create a PLC, to deepen their understanding of the key PLC concepts and how to apply them to their setting.

Summary of the Professional Development activity: The facilitator each week presents a key concept or characteristic of a PLC. An inquiry-based approach is employed so that participants form new knowledge and understanding about the material and apply it to their own setting. An online lecture, case study or an article is presented each week with questions for students to answer and post. Participants post related resources and questions related to the concept being presented. As participants understanding of a PLC deepens, they analyze their own setting's work creating a PLC. A final product for participants will consist of an electronic presentation demonstrating analysis of their setting, a plan with recommendations to their administration to progress a PLC and their role and actions to promote a PLC.

Technology: Moodle, Education Research Databases, Listserv Time

Requirements/Credit: Participants can expect that the course content will require approximately 30 hours of contact time including readings. Participants completing the course will be awarded a certificate of completion for 30 hours. This may be converted into CEUs after course completion by providing the district's hour-to-CEU formula to Maine ASCD.

Facilitator’s expectations of participants and self: Participants model behaviors needed for having an effective PLC. Participants read each lesson/article related to assessing their setting and submit at least one post with comments and connection to their settings each week.

Download a flyer here to share with your staff/colleagues

Tentative Schedule: 

Part 1 is knowledge/understanding and Part 2 is applying the knowledge to own setting.

Timeline with Topics

• Week 1 Introduction of Seminar, Participants and Overview of PLC
• Week 2 Collaborative Culture
• Week 3 Leadership
• Week 4 Shared Vision on Learning
• Week 5 Effective Teams
• Week 6 Team Building
• Week 7 Assessment
• Week 8 Action Research
• Week 9 Goal Development
• Week 10 Barriers to PLC development
• Week 11 Systematic Intervention to Promote Learning
• Week 12 Strategies to Promote Learning
• Week 13 Reflective Practice
• Week 14 and 15 Posting of Student Products Demonstrating Learning

About the Facilitator/Mentor

Kyle Rhoads is currently the principal at Acton Elementary School and has worked in four school districts in Maine in several capacities.  His experiences include being a Kindergarten Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, Co-Director of Early Elementary Education, Assistant Principal and Elementary School Principal.  As part of his work as a graduate student, Kyle taught a graduate course about teaching the adult learner.  His experiences range from working in one of the largest districts in Maine (Auburn) to one of the smallest (Acton).

Kyle's formal education includes a Bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire, a Master's degree from the University of Southern Maine in Educational Administration, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. 

Dr. Rhoads has had the opportunity to share his educational experience and knowledge in several ways including presentations at the Maine Principal's Association, Society of Developmental Education, and Maine Education Association.  He has been published in journals such as Journal of Staff Development, Early Child Development and Care, and Resources in Education.

Registration

$150.00 per person registration fee for Maine ASCD members

$185.00 per person registration fee for non-members (includes complimentary one year membership)

$175.00 per person (non-members) when registering in teams of four or more (includes complimentary one year membership for each person)

$70.00 per person student member rate

Fee includes $25.00 non-refundable processing cost

Please read our Cancellation and Refund Policy

How to register: 

Download and complete the Registration Form [PDF] (also available in MS Word format) and mail with check for the complete amount, Maine ASCD voucher, institutional Purchase Order, or credit card to:

Maine ASCD
PO Box 926
Brunswick, ME 04011-0926

Or fax your registration materials to 207-725-8547. This option may also be used with registrations made with Maine ASCD voucher, Purchase Order or credit card.

Questions?

Call Maine ASCD at 207-729-6652 or
e-mail: info@maineascd.org