Freeport Elementary School Recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community at Work™
One of About 200 Schools and Districts in the US and Canada to Receive This Honor
Freeport Elementary was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. The school’s successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work™ process was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students.
The campus joins three other campuses in Brazosport ISD named as Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) - Polk Elementary, Lanier Middle and Freeport Intermediate. PLCs 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:
- Focus on learning
- Build a collaborative culture
- Create a results orientation
Responding to news of the recognition, Principal Maria Espinoza said, “This is an amazing accomplishment, and honor to be recognized this way. I wanted to thank each and every one of my staff members for all of their hard work, persistence and dedication to our school and our students. This accomplishment is the result of all of us working collaboratively as a TEAM, and doing whatever it takes to make sure our students are successful. They are amazing educators, and I am so proud to lead this amazing campus! We know that student success begins in PK… and Freeport Elementary has proven this by implementing the practices and strategies of Professional Learning Communities!”
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 submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.
Freeport Elementary will also be featured in an upcoming Solution Tree book, What About Us? The PLC at Work process for Grades PK-2. This book focuses on the PLC at work process strategies and needs in the PK-2nd grade spans, and how schools have implemented successful models for these grades. Coming out in August 2020!
Model PLC Posting-All Things PLC
According to the Champions of PLC at Work™, educators in the schools and districts selected for this recognition have shown “a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey.”
Recognized model PLC schools are listed on allthingsplc.info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site. The site was developed and is maintained by Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance. For more than 20 years, Solution Tree resources have helped K–12 teachers and administrators create schools where all children succeed.