Transforming Secondary Schools into Learning Schools: Professional Learning Communities

About the book The following book was designed to provide educators, school administrators, and researchers, with an overview of theories and research pertaining to teacher professional development and a narrative discourse of the impact of professional learning communities in action at designated middle schools in South Texas. In addition, the book provides opportunities to engage in dialog, critical reflection, and ideas for engaging in reflective action. Chapter 1 describes the school systems across the country and the challenges encountered due to accountability and school reform. Chapter 2 provides an overview of past traditional staff development in comparison to current professional development trends. An overview of research on teacher support including mentoring, modeling, and coaching are included. Extended discussion and research provided on professional learning communities and challenges encountered during implementation. Chapter 3 describes the three year grant initiative model and the foundation for its inception at the designated middle school campuses. The chapter provides educator narrative accounts of their experiences with professional learning communities in action at their respective campus. Chapter 4 provides teacher survey respondent results on specific teacher support services and an overview of the lessons learned from the professional communities in action. Each chapter concludes with questions for reflection and further engagement regarding professional learning communities. The conclusion provides an overall reflection of lessons learned from the impact of communities to how communities of educators can transform into learning schools. About the Author Dr. Bernice Yvonne Sanchez currently serves as an Associate Professor in the College of Education at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, TX. Her areas of expertise and research focus include: Curriculum Development, Critical Reading and Writing Instruction, Teaching Literature at the Secondary Level, Teacher Preparation, and Effective Professional Development & Professional Learning within the public school systems. Dr. Sanchez is committed to supporting the growth and development of aspiring educators and school leaders through her on-campus course instruction and her interactive on-line teaching at Texas A&M International University. She encourages her university students to be reflective practitioners and to focus on developing lifelong learners in their respective classrooms. Dr. Sanchez has a combined 24 years of service in education. She has served as a classroom teacher and instructional specialist leader for nine years at both the elementary and middle school levels and has served as a university professor for fifteen years. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of Reading and Language Arts and Curriculum and Instruction. She currently serves as the site Director for the South Texas Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project. Dr. Sanchez has published numerous articles in scholarly research journals and has presented her research at various conferences over the last fifteen years. She was awarded the Texas A & M International University Professor of the Year 2010-2011 and the Texas A&M University System's Teaching Excellence Award for 2010, 2011, and 2012. More recently, she was acknowledged as the Texas A & M International University College of Education Scholar of the Year for 2015 with additional local awards and recognitions over the years. Dr. Sanchez has received various federal and state grant funded awards for the continuous professional development of teachers in the local public schools. Dr. Sanchez continues to evolve professionally through her preparation of future classroom teachers and through her state and national collaborative efforts with educators and researchers across the country.