Powerful Learning Network

Overview

For the 2024-2025 school year, our Powerful Learning Network will continue to build on the learning from past years while also addressing the most  pressing needs of our members. Based on member input, we will combine new learning from our focus text as well as explore additional research from key  areas. A thread about rewiring school culture post-COVID will be woven as we also provide a secondary focus for each meeting building on the past High Reliability Schools work.

Meeting 1 (Virtual) will focus on a More Positive and Productive School for All. Members will engage in protocols to explore school culture and climate, assess the culture they currently have, and define the culture they want. We will then collaborate and use our network support to define and plan specific strategies to build the school culture to increase engagement and positive outcomes for everyone.

Meeting 2 will continue our learning around improving school culture while re-examining High Reliability School Level 1: Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture. Members will evaluate the leading and lagging indicators for HRS Level 1 and cross-walk this information to the School Culture Rewired focus text. Members will engage in a research-based School Culture Survey Data Examination Protocol.

Meeting 3 will allow us to return to our work on the Six-Phase Model of Student Learning and build on the work of establishing Effective Teaching in Every Classroom. What are the practical strategies for ensuring this in terms of recruiting, hiring, supporting, and developing everyone in our buildings?

Meeting 4 will wrap-up and connect the learning, provide an opportunity for member sharing of learning transfer, and dive deeper into creating a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum.

We are excited to offer this new format and flexibility to our members, where we can respond more effectively to immediate needs and address areas of learning from meeting to meeting. We will also be adding two between-meeting virtual sessions to extend the learning and better support our network members during learning transfer and implementation.

We look forward to implementing this new model of professional learning with our valued colleagues and can’t wait to see you again in the coming school year. More details and registration information will be available soon!


 

What Should Network Members Expect?


 

  • Meeting Frequency: The networks will meet 4 times between August and March. The first meeting will be virtual followed by 3 full-day in-person sessions.
  • Differentiated Learning: Every meeting will use role-alike, grade specific, and other small group breakouts to differentiate and contextualize the learning for each network member.
  • Engaging and Active Learning: Attendees will actively guide the learning through their participation, collaboration, and feedback.

  • Collaboration and Networking: There is dedicated time for collaboration and networking. Learning protocols encourage members to interact, engage, and learn from each other.
  • Cost and Regional Cohorts: The cost to attend is $550 for the whole year. The host locations will be Athens, Gardendale, Alabaster, Tuscaloosa, Oxford, Montgomery, Troy, and Mobile. 
  • Professional Learning Credits: Members will receive an ACLD approved PLU or equivalent clock hours upon completion.