2012 UCEA Convention

Organizational Design in Support of Professional Learning Communities. Scott C. Bauer, George Mason University; S. David Brazer, George Mason University
This paper seeks to demonstrate how schools and school districts are designed to support professional learning communities (PLCs), and the role leaders play in organizing. The study is based on observations and interviews conducted in a dozen schools in a large suburban school system. Findings indicate that there is a degree of isomorphism in the design and implementation of PLC’s, with a significant degree of variability related to school level and goals.

International Professional Learning Communities: The Role of Enabling School Structures, Trust, and Collective Efficacy. Julie A. Gray, Texas A&M University- San Antonio; Robert Summers, The University of Alabama
This paper explores the role of enabling school structures, trust, and collective efficacy in the development of professional learning communities in six international schools in Latin America, each with students ranging from pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. This study hypothesizes that enabling school structures, collegial trust, trust in the principal, and collective efficacy will individually and jointly predict the development of professional learning communities in international schools.

A Multiple Case Study of Learning Teams and the Impact on Change of Practice and Sustainability. Nicole Watkins, University of Oklahoma; Leslie Ann Williams, University of Oklahoma
This study exposes aspects of how a learning team impacts the development and sustainability to support school collaboration and learning. Using a multiple case study approach, six secondary school principals shared their perceptions for their school and several common themes were revealed including leadership, school structures, communication, teacher learning, and student learning. They shared many practical examples and situations of how a learning team can enhance teacher growth and strong leadership practices.