Elevating Professional Learning: Dr. Molly Myers leads her faculty with an innovative twist on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
At Huddle Up Learning, we believe in the power of collaboration to enhance educational practices. One exemplary leader in this movement is Dr. Molly Myers, the Lower School Principal at Shanghai Community International School (SCIS), who has transformed the professional development landscape at her school.
The Journey Begins: A Year of Growth 2023-24
Two years ago, Dr. Molly Myers initiated a structured approach to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) within her faculty. To start the 2023-24 school year, different teams of faculty members chose their own PLC topics, focusing on improved instruction and identifying effective ways to measure student learning. Dr. Myers structured specific time set aside in the yearly calendar for teams to meet within their PLCs and share updates and feedback on the strategies they were implementing as well as the process itself.
The culmination of their efforts was celebrated with a gallery walk at the end of the academic year, where each PLC showcased posters demonstrating their growth and the data behind their student learning progress. The success of this event reflected the hard work and dedication of the entire faculty.
It was, by all accounts, a big success. Yet, she wanted more.
Raising the Bar with Huddle Up
As the 2024-25 academic year approached, Dr. Myers sought to elevate the PLC experience even further. By integrating the Huddle Up platform, she empowered her teams to chronicle their evidence and progress in a more dynamic and engaging way, entirely asynchronously, throughout the year. With Huddle Up, each PLC had a space to document their practices and share their findings and peer feedback with one another. This allowed each educator to post their actions directly after the lesson, at a convenient time while the classroom application was still fresh. The PLC didn't have to wait for the next PLC meeting to update each other. Subsequently, the rest of the PLC was able to share their peer feedback in between the scheduled meetings as well - and Dr. Myers and her team were able to be a part of each PLC team's process along the way. This innovative approach transformed the nature of their interactions; PLC members could communicate their evidence and insights regularly - and they could do it all during a time when it was convenient for each of them.
The meetings themselves changed. Instead of spending a significant amount of time allowing each member to share what they had done, they were able to come into the meetings already aware of each other's implementation and the initial peer feedback was already shared as well. The meetings turned into deeper discussions about clarifying meaning and goals, and generating dialogue to focus on next steps that could be taken from the data provided.
Building Shared Accountability
The transparent progress of all group members fostered a sense of shared accountability among the entire faculty. Educators were not only accountable to their PLC teams but to their colleagues as well. In essence, each PLC member was trying to be a part of the solution and sharing their best methods in a way that was evidenced. Teams could learn from each other. This openness encouraged greater engagement and follow-through, as faculty members could see how their peers were progressing and celebrate milestones together.
Accessible Collaboration & Evidence for All
One of the most significant advantages of using Huddle Up was the ease of collaboration it provided. Faculty members no longer had to wait until the end of the academic year to learn from their peers in other PLCs. The platform allowed for seamless interaction across groups, enabling individuals to "pop in" and explore the innovative practices being developed by their colleagues. This virtual sharing of resources and strategies enriched the professional learning experience, fostering a community of continuous improvement, and gave the face-to-face discussions much more of a data-centric context for a richer discussion.
Perhaps more importantly, unlike the previous year, all of the evidence from the various integration strategies and peer feedback was saved for everyone to access 24/7. In essence, it took turned the entire process into a digital gallery walk for the entire year.
Looking Ahead: A Resource Bank for Future Growth
As the school year progresses, Dr. Myers and her faculty are gearing up for another celebratory gallery walk to share their achievements in student learning gains. However, this year marks a pivotal change. Evan after the celebration, the entire faculty will have access to a comprehensive resource bank filled with practices, strategies, and peer feedback accumulated throughout the year. This invaluable repository will serve as a foundation for ongoing professional development, ensuring that the momentum built in the PLCs continues for future years.
New teachers can be quickly acclimated to the faculty goals and strategies. Returning faculty can choose to continue with their efforts from the previous year, join a new PLC, or create a new team to focus on implementing a new initiative.
Dr. Myers’ innovative use of Huddle Up to create structured, engaging Professional Learning Communities at SCIS. She has transformed the way her faculty learns from one another, ultimately enhancing the educational experiences of their students.
At Huddle Up Learning, we are proud to support leaders like Dr. Myers in their mission to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in education.
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