Our Blue Ribbon Project episode today follows a group of principals in Brooklyn who have formed a PLC. They are reading a book together, The Fundamental Five, and working through the concepts in their schools. Before this conversation, they watched a number of videos of classroom teachers working with students in class that included English Language Learners. The problem of practice (POP) they focused on had to do with developing academic vocabulary, among other things discussed during this podcast.

The conversation is hosted by Dr. Donald James, the Executive Director of CITE and former superintendent of schools in the Commack school district where his high school won a blue ribbon in 2021.
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The administrators in the PLC highlighted in this podcast are from District 17 in Brooklyn. They are:

Berthe Faustin PS 189

Marc-Heralde Mardy PS 289

Marie Casseus-Monteau PS 397

Marie Chauvet-Monchik PS 138

Ana Dejesus (AP) PS 249, a Blue Ribbon School

Elisa Brown (Principal) PS 249, a Blue Ribbon School

They discuss leadership strategies for creating and empowering PLCs of teachers in their schools:
Sharing learning among schools
Engaging in conversations about teaching practices
Defined structures for PLCs - creating teacher teams in a school, by building, grade-level, and to analyze data to inform teaching strategies

• lab structure for high-impact instructional strategies
• PLC roles for teachers within a school
• Supervising teacher PLCs for administrators
• Including teacher input on staff professional development
• How to empower teachers to become leaders who are invested in continuous improvement for their classrooms and the school

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This PLC of principals is reading the book The Fundamental Five, and implementing teaching strategies from the book. Some of the classroom concepts from the book that they are discussing in this podcast:

Engaging students as learning partners

Empowering students as learning partners

Creating a student-centered classroom

Peer and Self assessment for students
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For more on the book: Fundamental Five - The Formula for Quality Instruction by Sean Cain and Mike Laird, see below.

The Fundamental Five: The Formula for Quality Instruction, shares with teachers and school leaders the five practices that every teacher can, and should, use to dramatically improve instructional rigor and relevance, and student performance.

https://www.amazon.com/Fundamental-Formula-Quality-Instruction-ebook/dp/B0054R5B5S

For more on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) please see the work of Douglas Reeves

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H3J8FNB/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i6

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Elisa Brown mentions the CITE / Russell Sage doctoral program, where she is a Doctoral Candidate, which stresses the importance of empowering teachers as leaders. Learn more about the program at www.citesage.com

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CITE is the Center for Integrated Training and Education.
For over 25 years, CITE has trained high-achieving professionals such as:

TEACHERS: General and Special Ed Masters (Early Childhood or Childhood), Adolescent / Special Ed Professional Certification Master’s, TESOL / Professional Certification Masters, Special Ed license extension courses,Bilingual license extension courses, TESOL license extension courses, Early Childhood license extension courses

COUNSELORS: School Counseling Masters, Mental Health Counseling Masters, Advanced Certificate in Mental Health or School Counseling

ADMINISTRATORS: School Building Leadership, School District Leadership, Doctorate for CSA members,Doctorate for non-CSA members, Public Administration Master’s

— in all five boroughs of NYC, Yonkers, Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk. 

CITE PD: CITE offers CTLE-approved in-school or online professional development tailored to your school’s needs and your vision. We can work remotely with your staff and parents. Info: citepd.com