One fear we encounter while forwarding the tenets of professional learning communities is the perceived loss of autonomy. Yesterday my team used their strengths to teach and facilitate learning of essentials without such loss.

I have the privilege of attending multiple division meetings, and yesterday was such a day.  We met as an entire community to start conversation about our common goals for this year.  Then, each division met to  learn from and with their Division Head.

The through-lines and essentials to learn are clear to me. I appreciate seeing these examples of how we facilitate essentials learning by leveraging our unique strengths and talents.  There was no cookie-cutter lesson everyone delivered.  Yet, the essentials were taught, experienced, and practiced in each session.

Below are my notes from all three session. I hope you can see the essentials, through-lines, and goals that I see.

Joe Marshall – Whole School Meeting, 8:30 a.m.

Rhonda Mitchell – EED meeting 10:30 a.m.

Maryellen Berry – UED meeting 1:00 p.m.

Awareness of self and others. Giving our strengths and talents to our team. Honoring different points of view.

How might we keep open, unbroken circles?