Professional Learning

ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PAGE

At Reeds Spring, we believe professional learning is not a one-time event—it’s a continuous journey. Our educators are lifelong learners committed to growth, collaboration, and high-impact instruction. Professional learning is how we ensure every student benefits from high-quality teaching aligned to our district priorities, strategic plan, and evolving best practices.

This page is designed to support your professional growth by bringing everything you need into one place. You’ll find tools to track your PD hours, quick access to essential resources, and information about upcoming professional learning opportunities.

Professional Development Log

Keeping track of your professional learning is not just a requirement—it’s a professional habit that ensures you receive credit for the time and effort you invest in growth. According to DESE guidelines, the school year runs from July 1 through June 30, and all professional development hours must be recorded accordingly.

At the end of the year, you’ll complete the PD Hours Verification Form for Central Office to confirm your total hours. Be sure to maintain an accurate log throughout the year—this is your official record.

Graduate coursework may also count toward your hours. You may record 15 PD hours per 1 college credit hour successfully completed. For example, a 3-credit graduate course equals 45 PD hours. If you complete a course during the summer (June–August), you’ll record those hours in the log for the next school year, starting July 1.

Need help tracking? We’ve got a sample log available to make it easy. Don’t wait until May—stay ahead and stay organized!

The Power of PLCs

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are the backbone of continuous improvement in our schools. They provide structured, collaborative time for educators to focus on what matters most: student learning. Through regular PLC meetings, teachers analyze data, share instructional strategies, develop common assessments, and engage in meaningful dialogue about student progress. When done well, PLCs are not just meetings—they're where professional learning becomes embedded in daily practice and where collective expertise leads to real impact.

🗃️ Structures

PLC Agenda

Use a consistent agenda to maintain focus and ensure alignment to the four key PLC questions:

What do we want students to learn?
How will we know they’ve learned it?
How will we respond if they haven’t learned it?
How will we extend learning for those who have?

Include space for:

Data review
Instructional strategy sharing
Action planning
Follow-up commitments

data protocols

Use structured protocols to analyze student data and drive decision-making. Some options:

ATLAS Protocol: Analyze Trends, Look for Gaps, Assess Strengths
Data-Driven Dialogue: Predict, Observe, Infer, Decide
Looking at Student Work: Calibrate expectations and uncover misconceptions

success criteria

Create shared norms and success criteria for how teams collaborate. Examples:

Every member contributes
Conversations stay focused on student learning
Teams identify actionable next steps

Consider posting these norms and revisiting them monthly.

cycle of inquiry

Guide PLCs through a recurring process:

Identify priority standards and learning intentions
Develop/score common assessments
Analyze student evidence
Adjust instruction
Monitor progress

This reinforces a culture of continuous improvement—not compliance.

strategy swap

Dedicate time in each PLC to share what’s working in classrooms:

5-minute spotlight on a high-impact strategy
“Tried it Tuesday” or “Fix-It Friday” rounds

This builds collective efficacy and fosters a culture of innovation.

plc wall or digital dashboard

Create a visible (or digital) space where teams can post:

Learning targets being worked on
Celebrations of progress
Team action steps
Student work samples

It keeps the work public, purposeful, and collaborative.

Essential Resources

Here you'll find a curated collection of links to support your professional growth. Whether you're planning instruction, diving into high-impact strategies, or preparing for your next PLC, these resources are designed to keep your learning aligned, relevant, and ready to apply in the classroom.