Inside PLCs at Work®. Casey Reason

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Reason, Casey S., author. | Dougherty, Craig, 1957- author.

      Title: Inside PLCs at work : your guided tour through one district’s successes, challenges, and celebrations / Casey Reason and Craig Dougherty.

      Description: Bloomington, IN : Solution Tree Press, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

      Identifiers: LCCN 2018040013 | ISBN 9781947604421 (perfect bound)

      Subjects: LCSH: Professional learning communities--Wyoming--Sheridan County. | School improvement programs--Wyoming--Sheridan County. | Educational change--Wyoming--Sheridan County.

      Classification: LCC LB1731 .R347 2019 | DDC 370.71/10978732--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018040013

       Solution Tree

      Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO

      Edmund M. Ackerman, President

       Solution Tree Press

      President and Publisher: Douglas M. Rife

      Editorial Director: Sarah Payne-Mills

      Art Director: Rian Anderson

      Managing Production Editor: Kendra Slayton

      Senior Production Editor: Suzanne Kraszewski

      Senior Editor: Amy Rubenstein

      Copy Editor: Jessi Finn

      Proofreader: Miranda Addonizio

      Text and Cover Designer: Abigail Bowen

      Editorial Assistant: Sarah Ludwig

      We dedicate this book to Rick and Becky DuFour.

      It’s impossible for many of us to know the impact we have on others’ lives. However, Rick and Becky DuFour’s impact on schools, educators, and students is easy to see. Their written words about and tireless dedication to professional learning communities (PLCs) brought the PLC process to life. Their lifetime of work has inspired generations of excellence in schools across North America and the world, including in my district, Sheridan County School District 2 in Sheridan, Wyoming. For that and for so much more, we thank you, Rick and Becky.

      —Craig

      As a principal and assistant superintendent, I was greatly influenced by the work of Rick and Becky DuFour. My most ambitious dreams were realized when I had the honor of writing a book, Professional Learning Communities at Work® and Virtual Collaboration: On the Tipping Point of Transformation, with Rick. His leadership, friendship, and thoughtful guidance made me a much better writer and, I hope, a better man. Becky’s wisdom, kindness, and grace always inspired me. And finally, their bond and what they did with it, for each other and the world, also deeply inspired me. Love of mission and one another is a most powerful force. Thank you both for everything you did for me and for making this book possible. With love and friendship.

      —Casey

      Acknowledgments

      We acknowledge the contributions of the quality, open-minded, innovative educators across Sheridan County School District 2 whose work made our PLC journey a reality. Thanks to all of you for your unrelenting focus on students and their learning. This book is about you. We extend special thanks to Mitch Craft, Scott Stults, Paige Sanders, Brett Dahl, Rebecca Adsit, Christy Spielman, Scott Cleland, and Katie Medill. We also thank our colleagues at Solution Tree, specifically Mike Mattos and Anthony Muhammad, whose leadership will continue to be seminal in shaping the future of PLCs.

      Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:

      Alan Addley

      Superintendent

      Granby Public Schools

      Granby, Connecticut

      Bryce Amos

      Superintendent

      Carlisle Community School District

      Carlisle, Iowa

      Jason Andrews

      Superintendent

      Windsor Central School District

      Windsor, New York

      Jack Baldermann

      Principal

      Westmont High School

      Westmont, Illinois

      Eric Gilpin

      Principal

      Batchelor Middle School

      Bloomington, Indiana

      Stephanie Rodriguez