Euharlee Elementary School becomes the eighth Bartow County school to be named a Model Professional Learning Community for its sustained success in raising student achievement!
“I am very happy for the staff of Euharlee Elementary,” said EHES Principal Jim Bishop. “This has been a long process, and it took a four-year commitment on their part to earn this well-deserved recognition. It was not always easy, and we experienced growing pains along the way. However, we persevered, and the Solution Tree Evidence of Effectiveness Review Committee rewarded our collective efforts.”
The school’s successful implementation of PLC’s was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students. PLC’s are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:
1. Focus on learning. 2. Build a collaborative culture. 3. Create a results orientation.
“The first step in earning this achievement was forming a guiding coalition of teacher leaders who led our transformation to a professional learning community (PLC),” added Bishop. “Members of the coalition trained the grade level collaborative teams in the process of using four questions to focus on learning with a results orientation. The teams have achieved clarity in understanding what we want students to learn, monitoring learning through common assessments, and having a plan to meet the needs of students who need extra time and those who are ready for a new challenge. Over the last four years, we have refined this process and achieved our goal of becoming a high-functioning professional learning community."
Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture, and then submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.
“In the congratulatory letter, the review committee emphasized that a model PLC recognition is not permanent,” said Bishop. “We must see an annual improvement of student achievement. Our vision is for all our students to finish each school year prepared for the next level of learning. To accomplish our vision, every student who exits third grade should be reading on or above grade level. It will also require students to be proficient on all grade level essential standards. The guiding coalition and collaborative teams will continue to perfect the PLC processes of analyzing our curriculum, assessment, and instructional practices. This goal restarts as students move to the next grade level. After celebrating our yearly results, we will gear up for the next challenge.”
EHES, Clear Creek Elementary School, Pine Log Elementary School, Emerson Elementary School, Cass Middle School, Adairsville Middle School, Cloverleaf Elementary School, and White Elementary School now join the Bartow County School System as they celebrate Model PLC School and Model PLC District status.