Target Audience: School and District Leaders and Improvement Teams

“When a school or district functions as a PLC, educators within the organization embrace high levels of learning for ALL students as both the reason the organization exists and the fundamental responsibility of those who work within it.” — Dufour, Dufour, and Eaker

Workshop Description

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have been at the forefront of reform efforts as a viable means of transforming schools to improve student achievement. Today’s educational leaders face complex challenges, and Professional Learning Communities have been at the forefront of reform efforts as a viable and researched based means of transforming schools to close achievement gaps for all students. Our work integrates the PLC model with the RTI at Work Model to support systemic change that has a positive impact on student achievement. This series will bring teams across Vermont together to dive into this work through:

Teams will learn more about the role the district office plays in collaborating with instructional leaders and guiding coalitions/teacher leadership teams in supporting PLC/RTI implementation and school improvement efforts
Observe how collaborative teams align their work school wide and district wide to ensure high levels of learning for all students
Study real life exemplars and artifacts of best practices in action to inform participants next steps in their own school/district
Receive protocols and templates for teams to move student learning forward and practice using protocols in real time
Review a process for establishing a guaranteed and viable curriculum and discover strategies for analyzing student learning and making data-informed decisions about next steps on a doable, rapid, PDSA cycle

Workshop Dates

October 1, 2021 (9:00-3:30pm at Delta Conference Center in South Burlington)
December 3, 2021 (9:00-3:30pm at Delta Conference Center in South Burlington)
March 18, 2022 (9:00-3:30pm at Delta Conference Center in South Burlington)
Plus additional virtual consultation-one hour in November, January and February

Cost

$625 per participant (includes breakfast and lunch)
Includes book: Eaker & Keating: Every School, Every Team, Every Classroom

About the Presenters

Jack Baldermann has led several school districts as superintendent and principal to significant student achievement gains over his twenty year career as an educational leader. Most recently as superintendent and principal at Riverside Brookfield High School, the school was recognized as one the most improved high schools in Illinois and the nation. Jack is currently pursuing a doctorate of education in educational leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He holds a Masters of Arts in educational administration from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, a masters of arts degree in English from Loyola University, and a bachelor of arts in political science and English from the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois.
Jackie Ramsay-Tolman M.Ed. CAGS is the Director of Learning and Instructional Impact for the Essex Westford School District. As a former classroom teacher, special educator and principal, she has worked within all grade levels and brings deep knowledge, passion and empathy to her work. With 28 years of experience working in three very different VT districts, she is able to bring what is written in books about best practices to the “boots on the ground” level, identify and then plan for the “just right next steps” that support bringing systems, teaching, and most importantly, learning for all students – forward.

Leading Vermont's PLC's & RTI at Work