Leading a learning school: Perspectives on implementing a learning community

• Main Author: Carter-Sackey, Shera D
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2015
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Adult Basic Education; Adult Learning; Adult Students; Data Analysis; Educational Change; Educational Facilities Improvement; Educational leadership; Instructional Leadership; Learning Processes; Learning Theories; Lifelong Learning; Literature Reviews; Organizational Learning; Outcomes of Education; Research Methodology; School Effectiveness; Teacher education; Teacher Leadership; Teaching Methods
• ISBN: 9781321595802; 1321595808

Government reports document that improving educational outcomes for all students has led to an increased focus on teacher practice. Other data suggest that some school reform efforts have included conceptualizing schools as learning organizations with a focus on continuous improvement. Accordingly, this qualitative case study used face-to-face, semistructured, open-ended interview techniques to obtain data from administrators and teacher-leaders who led the implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs), working to meet the program requirements of Learning Forward's Learning School Alliance. The participants of this study were from a midsize junior high school in a rural school district in the southwestern United States. The participants included two administrators and eight teacher-leaders. Nine women and one man represented the areas of English/language arts, math, science, social studies, and special education. The two administrators who participated were the principal and an associate principal. The findings of the case study revealed the school has been successful with implementing PLCs and fulfilling Learning Forward's program requirements. The findings also indicated job-embedded collaborative learning may lead to positive school culture and student outcomes. The findings of this qualitative case study added to the research addressing school leaders' perceptions of PLC implementation.