Learning Unleashed

Leander ISD’s commitment to PLCs ensures the time, space, and guidance for staff to be able to zero in on the center of our Learning Model: “Focus on Student Learning.” As we continue to grow as a district, it becomes even more critical for us to continue learning and living out the PLC-life to support our students. Here are a few resources to support your collaborative team, wherever you are in your journey:

• Creating Effective Professional Learning Communities
• Are we a PLC or PWC?
• Need some ideas to jump start your team? Check out some of the tools your peers created based on their summer learning!
• Don't forget to use the PLC Implementation Guide and Reflective/Coaching Questions to help guide your work! You don't have to do it all at once. Find the right place for your team to start and go from there.
• Include the LISD Graduate Profile Attributes into your PLC’s instructional planning:
  
• Graduate Profile/PLC Reflection Questions
  
• Track Graduate Profile Skills your PLC incorporates throughout the year with these tools
• Info, tools, and templates can also be found on the LISD’s PLC Resources website
  

The LISD curriculum documents are framed using the four critical questions of a PLC.

• In Stage 1, you will find bold star, priority standards that help support choosing your essential outcomes (What do we want all students to know and be able to do?).
• In Stage 2, recommendations for assessment evidence will help you determine how you will you know if they've learned it.
• In the learning plan of Stage 3, you will find resources as you consider: How will students learn? How will we respond when students do not learn? How will we enrich and extend the learning for students that already know the content?

At our beginning of the year LISD PLC relaunch, we engaged in some learning about the benefits of our collaborative teams and the professional learning communities at the campus and district level. "How Educators Can Use PLCs for Innovation and Support" encourages educators to look beyond our buildings to collaborate on fresh lesson ideas, instructional and digital learning strategies, and perspectives to see challenges in new ways. What communities interest you?

The Digital Learning Team is excited to launch the Empowered Learning Institute (ELI), a cyclical professional learning opportunity over the course of the fall and spring that explores the process of designing learner-centered experiences while integrating technology, content, and pedagogy. Check out this testimony from one of our previous participants, Mrs. Netherton! 💛

Participants will have half-day off-campus time commitments that includes the following dates:

• Kick-off: Oct 22
• Session #2: Nov 19
• Session #3: Jan 21
• Session #4: Feb 25
• Celebrations: TBD

Who can apply? All are welcome: teachers, ICs, librarians, admin… If you think you would be a great fit, please complete the application by September 16.

Now accepting applications for LISD’s exciting new learning opportunity, Leadership Academy! This learning experience is for ANY staff member who wants to develop their leadership skills, teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, etc!

For more information check out this flyer. Interested staff should fill out this application form by September 13th.

Planning is underway for the 31st annual Continuous Improvement Conference (CIC)! This learning experience is a huge part of the power of our past that will continue to propel us forward as a force of the future! If you are new to LISD, here's what's special about CIC:

• Adult ownership of learning (educators treated as professionals to meet their learning needs through choice-based learning within a conference structure rivaling national education conferences)
• Peer-led learning (learning from those engaging in the same work; both leadership and learning opportunities for all staff)
• Community building & connection (sharing best practices across the district; building district-wide collective efficacy; connecting & collaborating with peers from other schools & departments)
• Learning for ALL (not just instructional/teaching staff)

This year's structure will have us organized into two locations, grouped primarily by elementary and secondary roles.

Start thinking about what's going well for you and/or your team this year that might be helpful to share with your peers; the call for session proposals will hit your inbox on September 16. In the meantime, start thinking about what you'd like to learn and collaborate around and let us know!

Interested in joining a committee who provides guidance on current and future professional learning structures in LISD? We are looking for a few more teachers, ICs, and campus leaders to join the group!

Nominate yourself or a peer via this form.

Check out past editions of Learning Unleashed.

Let us know what you think about this edition or what you'd like to see in future editions of "Learning Unleashed."

For more opportunities for professional learning provided by Leander ISD, check out Eduphoria Strive.

Email: professional.development@leanderisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/professional-learning/home
Phone: 512.570.0209
Twitter: @LISD_IPL