Robert Eaker - Every School, Every Team, Every Classroom: District Leadership for Growing Professional Learning Communities at Work TM

Copyright 2012 by Solution Tree Press

Materials appearing here are copyrighted. With one exception, all rights are reserved. Readers may reproduce only those pages marked Reproducible. Otherwise, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Eaker, Robert E.

Every school, every team, every classroom : district leadership for growing professional learning communities at work / Robert Eaker, Janel Keating.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-936765-09-6 (perfect bound) ISBN 978-1-936765-10-2 (library ed.) 1. School districts--United States--Administration. 2. Educational leadership--United States. 3. Professional learning communities--United States. I. Keating, Janel. II. Title.

LB2817.3.E35 2012

2011033465

Solution Tree

Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO & President

Solution Tree Press

President: Douglas M. Rife

Publisher: Robert D. Clouse

Vice President of Production: Gretchen Knapp

Managing Production Editor: Caroline Wise

Proofreader: Sarah Payne-Mills

Cover Designer: Jenn Taylor

Text Designer: Rian Anderson

A major theme of this book is that we can create schools that are good enough for our own children. Since the inspiration for our work has come, to a great degree, from the dreams we have had for our own children, it is only fitting that we dedicate this book to them.

To Taylor Keating:

From the time you were a baby, youve instilled in me the desire and the relentless passion to create schools that would be good enough for you and your friends to attend. Youve been my constant companion for every step of the journey to improve learning for the White River kids. You learned to walk in the hallway near my school office. You learned to ride your bike in the school parking lot. You learned to read and make friends in the classroom. You have motivated me! Being Taylors mom is my best and most important job.

Janel Keating

To Robin Eaker Lake and Carrie Eaker Kerley:

Every day I appreciate the fact that I have been blessed with two very wonderful daughters. Being your father and watching you grow up to become such amazing adults has been the singular highlight of my life. I am so proud of you. You continue to inspire and motivate me every single day, and I love you dearly!

Robert Eaker

Acknowledgments

W e are grateful to Tom Lockyer, the superintendent of the White River School District, and the White River Board of Education for their leadership and support in the implementation of professional learning community practices within the district. We also want to express our appreciation and admiration for the administrators and the faculty and staff of the White River School District for their passion, hard work, dedication, and professionalism.

We would also like to recognize the contributions and support of the Solution Tree family, and in particular, the chief executive officer of Solution Tree, Jeff Jones. From the Professional Learning Communities at Work Institutes, to a wide range of top-flight resources, to constant encouragement and support, Solution Tree has been a constant and consistent partner on our journey. Simply put, the resources and support from Solution Tree have been a huge factor in our districtwide reculturing efforts. And we would like to say a special thank-you to our editor, Gretchen Knapp. Her enthusiasm, graceful touch, professionalism, and attention to detail exponentially increased the quality of our book.

Visit go.solution-tree.com/plcbooks
to download the reproducibles in this book.

Table of Contents

Reproducible pages are in italics.

About the Authors

Robert Eaker, EdD, is a professor in the department of educational leadership at Middle Tennessee State University, where he also served as dean of the College of Education and later as interim executive vice president and provost. Dr. Eaker is a former fellow with the National Center for Effective Schools Research and Development, and in 1986 was recognized by the Phi Delta Kappan as one of North Americas leaders in translating research into practice.

He has written widely on the issues of effective teaching, effective schools, helping teachers use research findings, and high expectations for student achievement, and he has coauthored with Richard and Rebecca DuFour numerous books and other resources on the topic of reculturing schools and school districts into professional learning communities (PLCs).

In 1998, Dr. Eaker was recognized by the governor of Tennessee as the recipient of Tennessees Outstanding Achievement Award. Also in 1998, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed a proclamation recognizing him for his dedication and commitment to the field of education. In 2003, Dr. Eaker was selected by the Middle Tennessee State University Student Government Association to receive the Womack Distinguished Faculty Award.

For four decades, Dr. Eaker has served as a consultant to school districts throughout North America and has been a frequent speaker at state, regional, and national meetings.

Janel Keating is deputy superintendent of the White River School District in Washington, where she ensures district-wide implementation of professional learning communities. An accomplished educator with more than twenty-five years of experience, Janel has served as an elementary and middle school teacher, elementary principal, and director of student learning. Janel first put PLC concepts into practice while principal of Mountain Meadow Elementary School in Buckley, Washington. During her time there, Mountain Meadow was recognized as one of the highest academically performing elementary schools in the state.

Janel has been named Principal of the Year in Pierce County, Washington. She presents at state and national events, is a coauthor of The Journey to Becoming a Professional Learning Community, and has written numerous articles on leadership and school improvement. She coauthored with Robert Eaker the lead chapter in the 2012 Yearbook of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Janel regularly consults with school districts throughout the United States. She is past president of the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.