But learning communities in schools appear to often need external resources to support internal work; to provide different expectations for teaching and learning, and opportunities to practice different roles, responsibilities, and relationships
(Lieberman and Mace 2008, p. 228)
Abstract
This paper documents the progress of eight middle schools, four from one school district, and four from another that were engaged in the process of implementing Professional Learning Community (PLC) concepts. The descriptive study used quantitative and qualitative information gathered in a standardized, open-ended interview with the teachers and administrators (Patton 2002). Likert scales were used for each question to provide quantitative data, while the explanations to the questions provided the qualitative data. The results of this study revealed statistically significant differences between the two districts with regard to PLC implementation. Concepts that were most crucial to PLC work such as analyzing and responding to student learning were considerably higher in one of the districts. This paper adds to our understanding of how respond to the requests/demands of implementing PLCs in their schools, including what facilitates and detracts from PLC implementation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bolam, R. (2008). Professional learning communities and teachers’ professional development. In D. Johnson, & R. Maclean (Eds). Teaching: Professionalization, development and leadership. (pp. 159–179). doi: 10.1007/978-1-4-20-8186-6-10.
Capers, M. (2004). Teaching and shared professional practice: A history of resistance; a future dependent on its embrace. In S. M. Hord (Ed.), Learning together, leading together: Changing schools through professional learning communities (pp. 151–162). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Conley, S., Fauske, J., & Pounder, D. G. (2004). Educational Administration Quarterly, 40(5), 663–703.
Cooper, M. (1988). Whose culture is it, anyway? In A. Lieberman (Ed.), Building a professional culture in schools (pp. 45–54). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Cowan, D., Fleming, G. L., Thompson, T. L., & Morrissey, M. S. (2004). Study description: Investigating five PLC schools. In S. M. Hord (Ed.), Learning together, leading together: Changing schools through professional learning communities (pp. 15–19). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
DuFour, R., & Eaker, R. (1998). Professional learning communities: Best practices for enhancing student achievement. Bloomington, IN: National Education Service.
Fleming, G. (2004). Principals and teachers as continuous learners. In S. M. Hord (Ed.), Learning together, leading together: Changing schools through professional learning communities (pp. 20–30). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Fullan, M. (2001). Leading in a culture of change. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Fullan, M. (2008). The six secrets of change: What the best leaders do to help their organizations survive and thrive. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Gallagher-Polite, M. (2001). From turning points to transformation points: A reinvention paradigm for middle schools. Middle School Journal, 33(1), 21–27.
Hargreaves, A. (2007). Sustainable professional learning communities. In L. Stoll & K. S. Louis (Eds.), Professional learning communities: Divergence, depth, and dilemmas (pp. 181–195). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Hargreaves, A., & Fink, D. (2006). Sustainable leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Harris, A. (2009, April). Editorial: leadership matters. School Leadership and Management, 29(2), 87–89.
Harris, A. (2011). Reforming systems: Realizing the fourth way. Journal of Educational Change, 12, 159–171.
Harris, A., & Jones, M. (2010). Professional learning communities and system improvement. Improving Schools, 13, 172–181.
Hipp, K. K., Huffman, J. B., Pankake, A. M., & Olivier, D. F. (2008). Sustaining professional learning communities: Case studies. Journal of Educational Change, 9, 173–195. doi:10.1007/s10833-007-9060-8.
Hord, S. (1997). Professional learning communities: Communities of continuous inquiry and improvement. Paper published by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
Hord, S. (2004). Professional learning communities: An interview. In S. M. Hord (Ed.), Learning together, leading together: Changing schools through professional learning communities (pp. 5–14). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Hord, S., & Sommers, W. (2008). Leading professional learning communities: Voices form research and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Jackson, D., & Temperly, J. (2007). From professional learning community to networked learning community. In L. Stoll & K. S. Louis (Eds.), Professional learning communities: Divergence, depth, and dilemmas (pp. 45–62). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Joyce, B. (2004, September). At odds: Strategic planning- how are professional learning communities created? History has a few lessons. Phi Delta Kappan. 86.1.
Kokolis, L. (2007). Teaming was a catalyst for better climate and improved achievement. Middle School Journal, 39(1), 9–15.
Kruse, S., & Louis, K. S. (1993). An emerging framework for analyzing school-based professional community. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Atlanta, GA, April, 1993). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED38537).
Kruse, S., & Louis, K. S. (1997). Teacher teaming in middle schools: Dilemmas for a school wide community. Education Administration Quarterly, 33(3), 261–289.
Kruse, D., & Louis, K. S. (2007). Developing collective understanding over time: Reflections on building professional community. In L. Stoll & K. S. Louis (Eds.), Professional learning communities: Divergence, depth, and dilemmas (pp. 106–118). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Lieberman, A. (1995). Restructuring schools: The dynamics of changing practice, structure and culture. The work of restructuring schools: Building from the ground up. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Lieberman, A., & Mace, D. (2008). Teacher learning: The key to educational reform. Journal of Teacher Education, 59(30), 226–234.
Lieberman, A., Saxl, E. R., & Miles, M. B. (1988). Teacher leadership: Ideology and practice. In A. Lieberman (Ed.), Building a professional culture in schools (pp. 148–156). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Little, J. W. (1988). Assessing prospects for teacher leadership. In A. Lieberman (Ed.), Building a professional culture in schools (pp. 78–106). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Lortie, D. (1975). School teacher: A sociological study. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Louis, K. S., Kruse, S., & Raywid, M. A. (1996a). Putting teachers at the center of reform: Learning schools and professional communities. NASSP Bulletin, 80, 9–21. doi:10.1177/019263659608058003.
Louis, K. S., Marks, H. M., & Kruse, S. (1996b). Teachers’ professional community in restructuring schools. American Educational Research Journal, 33(4), 757–796.
Marzano, R., Waters, T., & McNulty, B. (2005). School leadership that works: From research to results. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
McLaughlin, M., & Talbert, J. (2001). Professional communities and the work of high school teaching. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
McLaughlin, M., & Talbert, J. (2006). Building school-based teacher learning communities: Professional strategies to improve student achievement. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
McLaughlin, M., & Yee, S. (1988). School as a place to have a career. In A. Lieberman (Ed.), Building a professional culture in schools (pp. 23–44). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Mergendoller, J. (1993). Introduction: The role of research in the reform of middle grades education. The Elementary School Journal, 93, 443–446.
Mertens, S., & Flowers, N. (2003). Middle school practices improve student achievement in high poverty schools. Middle School Journal, 35(1), 33–42.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook of new methods. London: Sage.
Moller, G. (2004). Building teacher leadership within a traditional school structure. In S. M. Hord (Ed.), Learning together, leading together: Changing schools through professional learning communities (pp. 148–150). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Morrissey, M., & Cowan, D. (2004). Creating and sustaining a professional learning community: Actions and perceptions of principal leadership. In S. M. Hord (Ed.), Learning together, leading together: Changing schools through professional learning communities (pp. 45–57). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Murphy, J., Smylie, M., Mayrowetz, D., & Louis, K. S. (2009). The role of the principal in fostering the development of distributed leadership. School Leadership and Management, 29(2), 181–214.
Patton, M. Q. (1989). Qualitative evaluation methods. Newbury, CA: Sage Publications.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Roney, K., Brown, K. M., & Anfara, V. A, Jr. (2004). Middle-level reform in high and low-performing middle schools: A question of implementation? Clearing House, 77(4), 153–159.
Schmoker, M. (2004). Tipping point: From feckless reform to substantive instructional improvement. Phi Delta Kappan, 85(6), 424–432.
Stoll, L., Bolam, R., McMahon, A., Wallace, M., & Thomas, S. (2006). Professional learning communities: A review of the literature. Journal of Educational Change, 7, 221–258. doi:10.1007/s/10833-006-0001-8.
Stoll, L., & Louis, K. S. (2007). Professional learning communities: Elaborating new approaches. In L. Stoll & K. S. Louis (Eds.), Professional learning communities: Divergence, depth, and dilemmas (pp. 1–13). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Stoll, L., Robertson, J., Butler-Kisber, L., Sklar, S., & Whittingham, T. (2007). Beyond borders: Can international networks deepen professional learning community? In L. Stoll & K. S. Louis (Eds.), Professional learning communities: Divergence, depth, and dilemmas (pp. 63–78). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Strahan, D., Cooper, J., & Ward, M. (2001). Middle school reform through data and dialogue: Collaborative evaluation with 17 leadership teams. Evaluation Review, 25, 72–99. doi:10.1177/0193841x102500104.
Wells, C. M. (2010). Critical issues for leadership: Early transition of implementation to a professional learning community: A conceptual design. In B. J. Irby, B. J. Alford, G. Perreault, & L. Zellner (Eds.), In 2010 NCPEA yearbook: Promoting critical ideas of leadership, culture and diversity (pp. 97–109). Lancaster, PA: DEStech Publications, Inc., Pro> Active Publications.
Wells, C. M., & Feun, L. (2007). Implementation of learning community principles: A study of six schools. NASSP Bulletin, 19(2), 141–160.
Wells, C. M., & Feun, L. (2008). What had changed? Three years of professional learning communities (PLCs). Planning and Changing Journal, 3(1 & 2), 42–66.
Wells, C. M., & Feun, L. (2009). Seeking to make schools better for students: High school principals and the work of implementing professional learning communities. In C. M. Achilles, B. J. Irby, B. Alford, & G. Perreault (Eds.), In 2009 NCPEA yearbook: Remember our mission: Making education and schools better for students (pp. 213–222). Lancaster, PA: DEStech Publications, Inc., Pro> Active Publications.
Wood, D. (2007). Teachers’ learning communities: Catalyst for change or a new infrastructure for the status quo? Teachers College Record, 109(3), 699–739.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wells, C.M., Feun, L. Educational change and professional learning communities: A study of two districts. J Educ Change 14, 233–257 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-012-9202-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-012-9202-5