Creating a Learning Community: The Basics for Reculturing and

Restructuring Your School

Tim BrownSolution Tree Associatebrowncharl2@gmail.com

West Virginia Institute for 21st Century Leaders

April 5 & 12, 2008

Cougar P.A.W.S.•POSITIVE•ATTITUDES•WE •SUCCEED

Cougar C.L.A.W.S.•COURAGE to•LEARN•ACHIEVE•WIN and•SUCCEED

Cougar GROWLS

All about youThat’s Me!!!Elementary? Middle SchoolSecondary?Other?

First year?2 – 5 years of experience?6 – 10 years of experience?11 – 20 years of experience?21 + ?

That’s Me If. . .Think the year is passing quickly? You think that the world of

education has changed over the last ten years?

You didn’t answer the last question because you are still thinking about how fast the year is passing?

You woke up this morning intending to change the world?

You woke up this morning intending to change the world with a little help from others?

“ Did you wake-up this morning intending to change the world?”

Mark Sanborn The Fred Factor

Focus on What We Can Change

• LOOK AT MOMENT TO MOMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• MOTIVATE• INSPIRE• CHALLENGE• PROVIDE MODELS• ENCOURAGE• CELEBRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS• HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS BACKED BY ACTIONS

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”

My Favorite Coffee Cup

OBJECTIVES

• Experience processes and products reflective of an organization that is focused on a collaborative culture that gets results.

• Apply our learning to REAL work.• Reflect on and self-assess personal

knowledge, skills, and beliefs.

?

What is a Professional Learning Community?

TERMS travel easily, but the meaning of the

underlying conceptsdo not.

Michael Fullan, 2005

What is a Professional Learning Community?

• Define each term• Share your understanding of the three

terms with a partner• Write your definition of a Professional

Learning Community• Be prepared to share with the rest of

the group– “Therefore, a professional learning

community is…handout

Three Big Ideas

The professional learning community model requires the school staff to focus on learning rather than teaching, work collaboratively on matters related to learning, and hold itself accountable for the kind of results that fuel continual improvement.

Dr. Richard DuFour

A Learning Community is Characterized by:1. Shared mission, vision

and values2. Collaborative teams3. Collective inquiry4. Action orientation

/Experimentation5. Commitment to

continuous improvement

6. Results orientationDuFour and Eaker

Why would we want to create a professional learning community?

Fundamental Assumptions

• We can make a difference: Our schools can be more effective

• People improvement is the key to school improvement

• Significant school improvement will impact teaching and learning

DuFour & DuFour & Eaker, 2003

Why would we want to create a professional learning community?

“The rules changed. Where once we were asked to sort and

select, now we are asked to guarantee all.”

Rick Stiggins, Assessment Trainer’s Institute

Today’s Expectations

The Normal Distribution

Standard Deviations

-3

-2

-1

0 +1

+2 +3

2% 14%

34%

34%

14%

2%

Yesterday’s Desired Growth

ES = 1.0 Control Group Experimental Group

-3

-2

-1

0 +1

+2 +3

2% 14%

34%

34%

14%

2%

Today’s Desired Growth

“We must change from a model that

picks winners to one that will create

winners.”Harold Hodgkinson, 1987

“Michigan: The State and Its Educational System”

Why would we want to create a professional learning community?

Correlates of Effective Schools

• Strong Instructional Leadership• Clear and Focused Mission• Safe and Orderly Environment• Climate of High Expectations• Frequent Monitoring of Student

Progress• Positive Home/School Relations• Opportunity to Learn & Student

Time on Task

Twelve Norms of a Healthy School CultureCollegiality

ExperimentationHigh Expectations

Trust and ConfidenceTangible Support

Teaching to the Knowledge BaseAppreciation and Recognition

Caring, Celebration and HumorInvolvement in Decision-makingProtection of What’s Important

TraditionsHonest and Open Communication

Reflection on the first Big Idea:What does it mean to have a focus on learning rather

than teaching?

What would be the evidence?What practices would we be doing?

Creating a Collaborative Culture

is a journey...

It begins with a shared understanding of where you want to go, together,

…and is fueled by a continuous process of building the skill and the will to share responsibility for the success of all learners.

You are not an accident!!!Communication Audit

• What do we plan for?• What do we monitor?• What do we model?• What questions do we ask?• How do we allocate time?• What do we celebrate?• What are we willing to confront?

Re-Culturing Your SchoolClarity of Purpose

At the heart of a school’s culture are its mission and purpose – the focus of what people do. Although not easy to define, mission and purpose instill the intangible forces that motivate teachers to teach, school leaders to lead, children to learn, and parents to have confidence in their school.Terry Deal and Kent Peterson

Characteristic #1Shared Mission, Vision, Values and Goals• Mission asks: “Why? Why do we

exist?” • Vision asks: “What? What do we want

to become?•

• Values and Collective Commitments asks: “How? How must we behave to create the school that will achieve our purpose?”

• Goals ask: “How?” How will we know all of this is making a difference?”

Characteristic #1Shared Mission, Vision, Values and Goals• Mission asks: “Why? Why do we exist?” • Vision asks: “What? What do we want to

become?•

• Values and Collective Commitments asks: “How? How must we behave to create the school that will achieve our purpose?”

• Goals ask: “How?” How will we know all of this is making a difference?”

Shared Mission, Vision, Values, GoalsCommunicating the Message

“We build significance through the use of many expressive and symbolic forms: rituals, ceremonies, icons, music, and stories. Humans have always created and used symbols as a foundation for meaning. Organizations without a rich symbolic life become empty and sterile. The magic of special occasions is vital in building significance into collective life.”

(Bolman and Deal, 1995)

What is your BHAG?BIG – HAIRY – AUDACIOUS – GOAL

A huge and daunting goal – like a big mountain to climb. It is clear, compelling, and people “get it” right way.It serves as a unifying focal point of effort, galvanizing people and creating team spirit as people strive toward a finish line. Like the 1960’s NASA moon mission, a BHAG captures the imagination and grabs people in the gut. Jim Collins Good To Great

To Be… • World Famous• The Best School In Town• An Accelerated Academy• The Best Science Department in

the State• Dedicated to Student Success

CommunicatingBeliefs – Expectations – Vision as a Team

• What do I want my classroom to look like for students and for me?– To achieve this I will…

• How do I want my students to interact with each other and with me?– To achieve this I will…

• How do I want my students to approach learning?– To achieve this I will…

handout

Creating the Vision “Conversation”Carousel

•What are some things we are good at?•What are some things we are great at?•What are some things we need to stop doing? •What are some things we need to start doing?•What do we celebrate?

REMEMBER: MISSION, VISION and VALUES ARE NOT ONE TIME THINGS

• Begins a necessary conversation• Reinvigorates workers• Inspires innovation and service• Renews commitment

Strategies for Changing Beliefs: Accentuate the Positive!

• Say It• Model It• Organize For It• Protect It• Reward It