Tuscola Teacher Leaders Grow Their Understanding of Professional Learning Communities at Conference in Charlotte.

Principal Travis Collins, Lead teacher Cecilia Ruth Marcus, English department chair Joey Robinson, math and science teacher Brent Rawls, and math teacher Heather Bell attended a workshop this week in Charlotte. The workshop offered by Solution Tree focused on the DuFour model for professional learning communities. Using the PLC model, Tuscola High School plans to implement a new way for teachers to be able to thoughtfully create learning objectives and assessments that drive not only their instruction but create a more collaborative, creative, and cooperative learning community for both professionals and students. To raise student achievement and to become one of the highest performing schools in North Carolina, Tuscola will concentrate on five essential goals: 1) focus on learning 2) create a collaborative culture 3) clearly define what all students must learn 4) constantly measure our effectiveness in the classroom, within departments, and as a school and 5) systematically respond when students don’t learn.  In addition to the leadership that these teachers will provide, Tuscola has also partnered with Dr. Jess Weiller, a professor at Western Carolina University and PLC consultant, to provide ongoing professional development for our staff over the next 18 months.  At T.H.S., we are committed to creating a school of high expectations and we look forward to embarking on this journey with all of our stakeholders.