Page 61 - EdViewptsSpring2020

one team time to collaborate. Fourth ago, we began pairing SMART Goals has shifted, and teachers working in
grade students may visit third grade with a KASAB (Knowledge, Attitude, PLCs need to know how to create and
classrooms as big buddies so that Skills, Aspirations, Beliefs) based on agree to norms, actively listen, develop
fourth grade teachers can meet. The the work of Joellen Killian. The KASAB trust, resolve conflicts, and agree to
book also discusses how to implement is written for the educator learning that give up their “way of doing things” for
banking time and the use of in-service needs to happen in order to support the the benefit of the team.
time and faculty meetings for PLCs. student learning outlined in the SMART The last condition is a commitment to
Alignment and accountability are also Goal. This has been a game-changer collective responsibility. Once again,
important for successful PLCs. Lois and has helped teams for focus on the Steve Barkley provides some guidance
Brown Easton wrote about strategic learning their team needs. in a podcast posted on his weekly
accountability for journal Kappan in Facilitation is an area that has not blog. He references Stephanie Hirsch’s
2016. PLCs can be held accountable to received enough attention. Well- statement that collective responsibility
themselves through norm-setting. They meaning districts have said, “Go forth means that all staff members share
can be accountable to the school by and PLC” without providing team a commitment to the success of
sharing agendas and minutes through members with the skills to facilitate each student. Barkley explains that
platforms like Google Docs. PLCs can PLCs. In my current district, I train PLC conversations must take place in PLCs
also be held accountable by setting facilitators on facilitation skills prior that help create the commitment to
goals based on current data and needs. to the beginning of the school year. A collective responsibility. The Connected
In my current district, PLCs document PLC facilitator needs a unique set of Action Roadmap Framework provides
their work in the style of a science fair on skills, such as conflict management, a series of 10 PLC conversations
a trifold board and share their work at a consensus-building, keeping team that help teams move toward this
Board of Education meeting at the end members on track, and focusing the commitment to collective responsibility.
of the school year. Alignment happens meeting. PLC facilitation is a unique In my experience, I have yet to see
through monthly meetings of all the PLC form of teacher leadership that did a school or district have all of its
Facilitators in the district. not exist until recently. Providing PLCs functioning at a high level all
Another condition for success is clarity PLC facilitators with a large tool bag at once. Hopefully, by focusing on
of team goals. In my current district, of resources will go a long way in these seven conditions for successful
teams have been writing SMART (Spe- supporting a PLC’s effectiveness. implementation, school leaders can
cific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Collaboration skills are also needed for identify areas of need and provide
Time-bound) Goals for years. However, PLCs to be successful. The popular specific supports. The work can be
sometimes those goals sounded like blog, All Things PLC, posted a blog complex, but it is worth it if our goal is
another Student Growth Objective titled “Collaboration is a Team Sport.” enhancing our teaching practice and
(SGO) and they were disconnected Prior to the implementation of PLCs, creating a learning environment where
from educator learning. A few years teaching was a solo activity. The culture students can meet their fullest potential.

References:
Barkley, S. (2016, October 30). Retrieved from https://barkleypd.com/blog/a-vision-for-plcs/
Barkley, S. (2019, March 28). Retrieved from https://barkleypd.com/blog/creating-plc-converstions-that-increase-collective-
responsibility/
CAR - The Connected Action Roadmap. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://njpsa.org/car/
DuFour, R., DuFour, R. B., Eaker, R. E., Many, T. W., & Mattos, M. (2020). Learning by Doing: A Handbook for
Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
Easton, L. B. (2016). Strategic Accountability Is Key to Making PLCs Effective. Phi Delta Kappan, 98(4), 43–48. doi:
10.1177/0031721716681776
Hirsch, S., & Crow, T. (2018). Becoming a Learning Team (2nd ed.). Oxford, OH: Corwin.
Killion, J. (2017). Assessing Impact: Evaluating Staff Development. Thousand Oaks: Corwin.
Rose, A. B. (2014, July 16). Retrieved from https://www.allthingsplc.info/blog/view/261/collaboration-is-a-team-sport

About the Author

Kim Tucker currently serves as the Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for the Somers Point School
District. In addition, she is the Principal of the New York Avenue School. In this role, she is responsible for
overseeing all academic subjects at all levels (Pre-K - 8), planning and executing professional development
opportunities for professional and support staff, and overseeing federal programs and the district assessment
schedule. She manages these varied responsibilities by building, nurturing and sustaining collaborative work-
ing relationships with teachers, PLC facilitators, support staff members, Board members and administrative
colleagues. Kim currently serves as the President of Learning Forward New Jersey. Her twitter handle is @tuckerkim.

Educational Viewpoints -59- Spring 2020