The Principal as Professional Learning Community Leader
December 2008 | 144 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452293837
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ISBN: 9781412963138
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Description

"This series allows school principals to integrate theory and practice themselves, resulting in highly insightful and practical strategies that will make a difference in schools. Practitioners: lead thyselves!"
—Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

"Avoiding high-flown theory on the one hand and mere bullet points on the other, these books represent the best that highly expert leaders have to offer—intellectually informed ideas about how to deal with the compelling practical issues of principalship."
—Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Boston College

"This series of little volumes provides a valuable resource for new principals who would become accomplished instructional leaders and seasoned principals looking to strengthen their leadership capacity."
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center

"Addresses some of the most important challenges facing school leaders today. The authors bring a remarkable combination of deep, practical experience and academic sophistication to these challenges."
—Ken Leithwood, Professor
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Create a collaborative culture for increased student achievement!

Schools with professional learning communities (PLCs) benefit from significantly improved student achievement and a greater sense of shared purpose. This resource, part of the Leading Student Achievement series, provides principals with practical support to lead the development of PLCs in their schools. With step-by-step plans and hands-on strategies, this handbook guides principals through the process of building thriving PLCs by:

  • Defining the key attributes of PLCs 
  • Explaining the principal's role in the process 
  • Laying the foundation for shared mission, vision, values, and goals 
  • Showing how to create a steering team, introduce the concept to staff, and develop teacher learning teams

Featuring professional development modules, case studies, and reproducibles that can be adapted to any school context, The Principal as Professional Learning Community Leader is an invaluable companion for school leaders at any level.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

Introduction

  • 1. Building Professional Learning Communities
  • Why Professional Learning Communities?
  • The PLC Edifice: An Analogy
  • Feature: Reflection and Action Template
  • Summary
  • 2. The Role of Principals in Leading Professional Learning Communities
  • Leadership Practices of the PLC Principal
  • Principal/Vice Principal Learning Teams
  • Feature: Reflection and Action Template
  • Summary
  • 3. Planning for Professional Learning Communities
  • Collaborative Leadership: Creating the PLC Steering Team
  • PLC Snapshot Assessment
  • Setting Up a Tracking System
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 4. Introducing Staff to Professional Learning Communities: Foundations
  • Laying the Foundations of a PLC
  • Feature: Professional Development Modules: Introducing Staff to PLCs
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 5. Supporting Learning Teams: The Pillars
  • Learning Teams for Improving Student Achievement
  • The Four Pillars
  • Feature: Professional Development Module: PLC Learning Teams
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 6. The Roof: Continuous Learning and Continuous Improvement
  • Reflection and Action
  • Celebration
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary

The Principal's Tool Kit

  • Professional Development Modules
  • Case Studies
  • Reproducibles

Glossary

Glossary

References

References

Index

Index

Description

"This series allows school principals to integrate theory and practice themselves, resulting in highly insightful and practical strategies that will make a difference in schools. Practitioners: lead thyselves!"
—Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

"Avoiding high-flown theory on the one hand and mere bullet points on the other, these books represent the best that highly expert leaders have to offer—intellectually informed ideas about how to deal with the compelling practical issues of principalship."
—Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Boston College

"This series of little volumes provides a valuable resource for new principals who would become accomplished instructional leaders and seasoned principals looking to strengthen their leadership capacity."
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center

"Addresses some of the most important challenges facing school leaders today. The authors bring a remarkable combination of deep, practical experience and academic sophistication to these challenges."
—Ken Leithwood, Professor
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Create a collaborative culture for increased student achievement!

Schools with professional learning communities (PLCs) benefit from significantly improved student achievement and a greater sense of shared purpose. This resource, part of the Leading Student Achievement series, provides principals with practical support to lead the development of PLCs in their schools. With step-by-step plans and hands-on strategies, this handbook guides principals through the process of building thriving PLCs by:

  • Defining the key attributes of PLCs 
  • Explaining the principal's role in the process 
  • Laying the foundation for shared mission, vision, values, and goals 
  • Showing how to create a steering team, introduce the concept to staff, and develop teacher learning teams

Featuring professional development modules, case studies, and reproducibles that can be adapted to any school context, The Principal as Professional Learning Community Leader is an invaluable companion for school leaders at any level.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

Introduction

  • 1. Building Professional Learning Communities
  • Why Professional Learning Communities?
  • The PLC Edifice: An Analogy
  • Feature: Reflection and Action Template
  • Summary
  • 2. The Role of Principals in Leading Professional Learning Communities
  • Leadership Practices of the PLC Principal
  • Principal/Vice Principal Learning Teams
  • Feature: Reflection and Action Template
  • Summary
  • 3. Planning for Professional Learning Communities
  • Collaborative Leadership: Creating the PLC Steering Team
  • PLC Snapshot Assessment
  • Setting Up a Tracking System
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 4. Introducing Staff to Professional Learning Communities: Foundations
  • Laying the Foundations of a PLC
  • Feature: Professional Development Modules: Introducing Staff to PLCs
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 5. Supporting Learning Teams: The Pillars
  • Learning Teams for Improving Student Achievement
  • The Four Pillars
  • Feature: Professional Development Module: PLC Learning Teams
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 6. The Roof: Continuous Learning and Continuous Improvement
  • Reflection and Action
  • Celebration
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary

The Principal's Tool Kit

  • Professional Development Modules
  • Case Studies
  • Reproducibles

Glossary

Glossary

References

References

Index

Index

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The Principal as Professional Learning Community Leader


December 2008 | 144 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412963138 $68.95
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781412963145 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781452293837 $35.00

"This series allows school principals to integrate theory and practice themselves, resulting in highly insightful and practical strategies that will make a difference in schools. Practitioners: lead thyselves!"
—Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

"Avoiding high-flown theory on the one hand and mere bullet points on the other, these books represent the best that highly expert leaders have to offer—intellectually informed ideas about how to deal with the compelling practical issues of principalship."
—Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Boston College

"This series of little volumes provides a valuable resource for new principals who would become accomplished instructional leaders and seasoned principals looking to strengthen their leadership capacity."
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center

"Addresses some of the most important challenges facing school leaders today. The authors bring a remarkable combination of deep, practical experience and academic sophistication to these challenges."
—Ken Leithwood, Professor
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Create a collaborative culture for increased student achievement!

Schools with professional learning communities (PLCs) benefit from significantly improved student achievement and a greater sense of shared purpose. This resource, part of the Leading Student Achievement series, provides principals with practical support to lead the development of PLCs in their schools. With step-by-step plans and hands-on strategies, this handbook guides principals through the process of building thriving PLCs by:

  • Defining the key attributes of PLCs 
  • Explaining the principal's role in the process 
  • Laying the foundation for shared mission, vision, values, and goals 
  • Showing how to create a steering team, introduce the concept to staff, and develop teacher learning teams

Featuring professional development modules, case studies, and reproducibles that can be adapted to any school context, The Principal as Professional Learning Community Leader is an invaluable companion for school leaders at any level.


Table Of Contents:

  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • 1. Building Professional Learning Communities
  • Why Professional Learning Communities?
  • The PLC Edifice: An Analogy
  • Feature: Reflection and Action Template
  • Summary
  • 2. The Role of Principals in Leading Professional Learning Communities
  • Leadership Practices of the PLC Principal
  • Principal/Vice Principal Learning Teams
  • Feature: Reflection and Action Template
  • Summary
  • 3. Planning for Professional Learning Communities
  • Collaborative Leadership: Creating the PLC Steering Team
  • PLC Snapshot Assessment
  • Setting Up a Tracking System
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 4. Introducing Staff to Professional Learning Communities: Foundations
  • Laying the Foundations of a PLC
  • Feature: Professional Development Modules: Introducing Staff to PLCs
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 5. Supporting Learning Teams: The Pillars
  • Learning Teams for Improving Student Achievement
  • The Four Pillars
  • Feature: Professional Development Module: PLC Learning Teams
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • 6. The Roof: Continuous Learning and Continuous Improvement
  • Reflection and Action
  • Celebration
  • Guiding Questions
  • Feature: Recording and Planning for Continuous Learning: PLC Learning Grid
  • Summary
  • The Principal's Tool Kit
  • Professional Development Modules
  • Case Studies
  • Reproducibles
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

“This series of publications addresses some of the most important improvement challenges facing school leaders today. The authors of the series bring a remarkable combination of deep, practical experience and academic sophistication to these challenges. The series should be required reading for all school leaders.”
Ken Leithwood, Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
“At last, a series of outstanding books by practicing administrators, for practicing principals. Avoiding high-flown theory on the one hand and mere lists of bullet points on the other, these books represent the best that highly expert leaders have to offer—intellectually informed ideas about how to deal with the compelling practical issues of principalship. Getting down from the ivory tower and stepping out of the principal’s office, these authors offer some of the most important and useful books about leadership that principals can buy.”
Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education, Boston College
“This series of little volumes offers a plethora of rich ideas ranging from practice and specific methods right down to easy-to-use worksheets. It provides a valuable resource for new principals who would become accomplished instructional leaders and also for seasoned principals looking to strengthen their leadership capacity.”
Roland S. Barth, Former Teacher and Principal, Founding Director, Harvard Principals’ Center
“This is a great series that allows school principals to integrate theory and practice themselves, resulting in highly insightful and practical strategies that will make a difference in schools. Practitioners: lead thyselves!”
Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Recommendations