Many of us (38 district wide and 11 from KMS) just spent an amazing two and a half days at the PLC Institute in St. Charles. Most, if not all of you, have heard the message and know the tremendous benefits from creating a true Professional Learning Community. I am a firm believer that it is through PLC teams that we can change the world and reach ALL students to achieve at high levels. Unfortunately, there are still a few people who have not fully bought into this transformational model and we at KMS are still practicing PLC Lite at this point in most cases. Much of that falls on my shoulders as a leader that I was unable to take us to the next level of a high functioning true PLC but it's not too late and I hope you get there. My challenge to all of you professionals is to not take any steps backward in your PLC journey; steps backward is equivalent to malpractice in medicine.

Most of the sessions I attended during my time down in St. Charles focused on transforming school culture - cultivating the type of environment that fosters a truly Collaborative Culture. Although I do feel like we are getting there at KMS, we still have some teachers who have not fully bought in to the idea and the philosophy of PLC for reaching all of our kids. Again, this is something that I need to work on as I continue in leadership and leading this vision and movement of PLC.

Anthony Muhammad, whom you will all see in August, is one of the most inspirational and motivational champions of PLC that I've ever heard; he's right up there with the Dufour's. Anthony's closing message to us at the PLC institute on Friday 6/16/17 was beyond moving and nearly brought me to tears (and I am not an emotional person). One of Anthony's clear messages to all of us during his keynote was that we all have to confront the "elephant(s) in the room", not be afraid to be courageous and brave, and take that leap into truly "Doing PLC", and help change the vision for the resistors. The evidence of excellence speaks for itself and KMS leaders, all teacher leaders, need to make it clear that resistors are either getting on our bus or they're getting off because the bus is moving and this bus is student-centered. We all now have the tools and the knowledge so it's time to act at KMS; no more excuses and no more malpractice.

Anthony described school culture like a garden - a garden must have fertile soil in order to grow healthy award winning produce. So too must a school have fertile soil - the school culture is that soil - and the award winning produce is ENSURING that ALL students learn at high levels. Yes ALL.

In closing, I challenge each of you to not a take a step backward as I leave KMS and go on to my next adventure; don't let the culture take a step back = acclimate your next leader to our culture, which I hope is more student-centered than ever. Your teams have all the tools, the knowledge and the ability to cultivate the soil at KMS to continue to improve our culture/soil and change our garden into a place where award winning produce is grown. You accomplish your goals through your teams and by staying positive through thick and thin. It's time for a few of you to look in the mirror, make some adjustments to your beliefs and remember why you got into this PROFESSION in the first place = to ensure all students learn. It's time to jump in and do the work as a team; no more delaying and no more malpractice.

I will always remember my time in KCSD very fondly because of the great people that we have whom have made me a better leader. We truly do have extremely capable and caring people to do the work; some of us just have to jump in and begin actually doing the right work and be more student centered than ever as teams. We have to have more teachers who are courageous enough to lead their teams in DOING the work and who aren't afraid to address the resistors (see the video below :) ). Make the resistors and the nay-sayers uncomfortable and make them feel lonely; keep the best in mind at all times with every step and do what is right by our students = work as teams.

It is through your teams that you can change the culture of Keokuk forever and one PLC team gathering at a time you can strategically change the world.

"Know Thy Impact"

Go get 'em.

What does KMS need to address to be the type of PLC that is high functioning? https://drive.google.com/open?id=1--yaj2d9VoybAhTSgKOhKXK95L6Tbfrs9hHcNNgawL4

This link will take you to our KMS spreadsheet of the areas we need to address and in my opinion the cultural foundation is still the biggest area. Without that foundation we will never actualize our potential. Address it one conversation at a time - be brave, be courageous, be professional. This spreadsheet Level Framework comes from Robert Marzano's "High Reliability Schools" and really through a PLC is how we become highly reliable.

https://docs.google.com/a/keokukschools.org/document/d/1Tra3Y4nE83VNCveOzh6URAsTYswQU3wa6fZbFVlU93E/edit?usp=sharing

KMS Leaders!

We are all now familiar with Hattie’s effect sizes and impacts on student learning. I want to talk more about your role and leadership in creating and sustaining a truly “Collaborative Culture”/Professional Learning Community. We know that the impact size for a truly Collaborative Culture is substantial on student achievement = 1.57. One of the biggest challenges the KMS family has is supporting 100% the importance, vision, and impact a collaborative culture has on student achievement - shared leadership is a huge part of this idea = KCSD needs your leadership and advisory in making this culture happen and sharing the lead. One huge component to a collaborative culture are the TLC positions, and other teacher leadership opportunities like BILT, and the idea that we need to be supporting and challenging each other to be the best teachers we can be - that’s where you come in as leaders and professionals in that area. We know that best practice in education is through creating a collaborative culture/true PLC and our kids need your 100% commitment and support to leading this initiative including support for our Instructional Coach and all teacher leaders to be change agents. When we create the type of culture that is truly collaborative by nature, we will see tremendous growth and success by our students in every way imaginable.

Be Brave and Go Change the World!