The School Leader's Guide to Professional Learning Communities at Work, Jan/2012

The School Leader’s Guide to Professional Learning Communities at Work™ is based on three assumptions: a school’s primary purpose is to ensure high levels of learning for all students, the most promising strategy for fulfilling this purpose is to develop a staff’s capacity to collaborate as a PLC, and the principal’s role is to lead a collective effort to create a PLC through processes that promote adult learning. Richard DuFuour and Rebecca DuFour provide specific, research-based, and actionable steps principals can take to develop and lead a PLC, challenging leaders not to ask, “Will I make a difference?” but “What difference will I make?”

K-8 principals will learn how to:

1. Build the foundation of a PLC, create school structures for collaboration, and transform groups into high-performing collaborative teams
2. Focus on the right work and on results, monitor each student’s learning through ongoing assessment, and help teams improve individual and collective practice
3. Respond to struggling learners through effective intervention, provide students with opportunities for enrichment, and ensure high levels of learning for all
4. Sustain school improvement, stay the course, and establish a culture where other school leaders can continue the PLC journey into the future

About The Authors:
Richard DuFour, EdD, was a public school educator for 34 years, serving as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He served as the principal of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, from 1983 to 1991 and as superintendent of the district from 1991 to 2002. During his tenure, Stevenson became what the United States Department of Education (USDE) has described as “the most recognized and celebrated school in America.” It is one of three schools in the nation to win the USDE Blue Ribbon Award on four occasions and one of the first comprehensive schools designated a New America High School by USDE as a model of successful school reform. Stevenson has been repeatedly cited in the popular press as one of America’s best schools and referenced in professional literature as an exemplar of best practices in education.

Dr. DuFour is the author of many books and has written numerous professional articles. He wrote a quarterly column for the Journal of Staff Development for nearly a decade. Dr. DuFour was the lead consultant and author of ASCD’s video series on principalship and the author of several other videos. He was the first principal in Illinois to receive the state’s Distinguished Educator Award (and also received this award as a superintendent). Dr. DuFour was named as one of the Top 100 School Administrators in North America by Executive Educator magazine, was presented the Distinguished Scholar Practitioner Award from the University of Illinois, and was the 2004 recipient of the National Staff Development Council’s Distinguished Service Award. He consults with school districts, state departments, and professional organizations throughout North America on strategies for improving schools.

Rebecca DuFour has served as a teacher, school administrator, and central office coordinator. As a former elementary principal, Becky helped her school earn state and national recognition as a model professional learning community. She is one of the featured principals in the Video Journal of Education program “Leadership in an Age of Standards and High Stakes” (2001). She is also the lead consultant and featured principal for the Video Journal of Education program “Elementary Principals as Leaders of Learning” (2003). Becky is coauthor of many books and video series on the topic of PLCs.

She has written for numerous professional journals, including a quarterly column for the National Association of Elementary School Principals publication Leadership Compass. She has also served as a book reviewer for the Journal of Staff Development.

Becky is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of Lynchburg College. She consults with and works for professional organizations, school districts, universities, and state departments of education throughout North America.