What Happens on Wednesdays: Professional Learning Communities

For our students, Wednesdays typically mean an early release from school and an extra hour at home, but for our teachers, Wednesdays are a dedicated day for professional development. On early release days, teachers and staff stay at their schools to participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), essential professional growth and development sessions that help our staff grow and positively impact their classrooms.

PLCs are not just lectures and presentations that teachers and staff sit through - they focus on collaboration, data, and growth. In PLCs, teachers might come together to learn about a new curriculum, review their school’s Continuous Improvement Plan, or outline their priorities for the coming months. This collaborative time enables teachers and staff to share strategies, recognize accomplishments, and learn from one another, ensuring that everyone is working together to create an effective learning environment for our students.

For example, Neely Traditional Academy welcomed teachers from Spectrum Elementary and Canyon Rim Elementary to its campus for a math training session, which included an engaging workshop focused on strategies to encourage student thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving in the classroom. Similarly, staff at Ashland Ranch Elementary have used PLCs to spend time reflecting and reviewing data, celebrating successes, and setting meaningful goals for the school year.

Gilbert Public Schools is dedicated to providing quality, research-based professional learning opportunities for all employees, focusing on high-effect instructional practices that emphasize the importance of student-centered classrooms. To learn more about PLCs, including information about curriculum, visit GilbertSchools.net/Teaching-Learning.