Page 26 - EdViewptsSpring2017

Reflections on a Collaborative Road

Trip: One School’s Journey with CAR

By Janet Ciarrocca, Principal, Livingston Park School, North Brunswick, NJ

Starting the Journey initial training at NJPSA to learn the A Shared Destination

The staff at Livingston Park School in fundamentals of the program along The CAR model helps PLC members
with 32 other districts and 34 schools
North Brunswick, NJ started a virtual from around the state. In the Spring of learn a common language through
road trip last year, a collaborative 2016, we started to slowly roll out the guided conversations that allow them
journey towards student learning, CAR work with three volunteer grade to explore and learn essential topics
through the CAR (Connected Ac- level leaders. (In our district, each with a focus on student learning, the
tion Roadmap) process. Our journey grade level team is led by a grade true destination of all of the work we
began last November when NJPSA leader who receives an extra stipend as educators engage in. CAR uses an
put out a call for pilot districts. The for their additional work.) They were online Moodle made up of videos and
CAR model was promoted as one that the anchor and teacher leaders of this conversation starters to strengthen the
could unite many different initiatives process who volunteered to take the work of the PLC. Livingston Park has
into a cohesive, sensible way to guide lead on this initiative. Our team worked had PLC’s in place for many years,
PLC’s (Professional Learning Commu- with the understanding that change but as is the case with many PLC’s in
nities) through their work, a process can be difficult for any staff. By start- many districts, our implementation
that would ultimately lead to increased ing the process with volunteers and was inconsistent and in need of further
student learning. After applying and working to build staff buy-in through direction. While teachers met once a
being accepted to participate in the collaborative leadership, we hoped for week to look at student work or plan
pilot, a small leadership team attended greater success. lessons during a 42 minute extra

Educational Viewpoints -24- Spring 2017