Adairsville Elementary School becomes the ninth Bartow County school to be named a Model Professional Learning Community for its sustained success in raising student achievement!
“I am proud and honored for my school community,” said AES Principal Melissa Zarefoss. “Our staff has worked tirelessly over the last 3.5 years to gain recognition as a Model PLC School. They are a dedicated group of educators who through hard work and dedication to our students have created learning environments they know are best for our children.”
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 creation of our Guiding Coalition began our transformation from a building of teaching to a focus on learning,” added Zarefoss. “Our teacher leaders and facilitators led teams with the support of leadership along the way. It was a team effort; we were all in the trenches together! Using the four guiding questions, teacher and student collaboration became the focus – we focused on what we were teaching, how we were teaching it, and had plans for what to do when students got it and when students needed more direct instruction time. It was intentional. Understanding the impact collective teacher efficacy has on student learning made it a priority. Teachers were showing a strong commitment to the profession, felt they had a positive influence on student achievement, and showed persistence to get students where they needed to be. All of this was accomplished by the support of our instructional lead teacher’s slow, steady, and supportive approach to our staff.”
“We also put a lot of work into using data to drive our collaboration,” said Zarefoss. “Specifically in the area of our tier two instruction, we have become more efficient in creating targeted groups at tier two which allows for more time and instruction on essential standards. We have seen the benefits of these groups and the data speaks for itself. An example of this success is currently evident in second and third-grade math where both grade levels have reached 100% proficiency on at least one essential standard. We can’t wait to see continued academic successes!”
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.
“This is a never-ending process that we will continue to improve on,” said Zarefoss. “Our grade level teams will set continuous improvement goals, and their focus on learning is a living document, changing as our students change. Our Guiding Coalition is committed to facilitating high functioning teams and doing the right work.”
AES, Euharlee Elementary School, 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.