Facilitating Communities of Professional Practice 

A significant body of research demonstrates that schools that have strong professional community among staff members have higher levels of student learning and achievement, higher levels of job satisfaction and retention for teachers, and are more able to respond creatively to the inevitable challenges schools face. Based on the tools and practices of School Reform Initiative, Inc. (SRI), this course trains teacher leaders and school administrators to design and facilitate the development of communities of professional practice in their schools. Candidates will consciously choose and use this model of professional development as the primary mechanism for promoting equity, supporting evidence-driven inquiry, professional growth, SRI critical friendship, communication, and accountability. Students in this course will create a professional development plan to promote the use of communities of professional practice in their school setting. Candidates will also use the tools developed in this course to help with more general professional development planning, teacher supervision and evaluation, and meeting facilitation.

About the Instructor 

Susan Dreyer-Leon, Ed.D., Director, Experienced Educators’ Program at Antioch University New England; former alternative public high school teacher/leader in New York city and Vermont; School Reform Initiative National Facilitator; experienced Coalition of Essential Schools teacher and leader. Special interests include the development and support of equitable, democratic and joyful schools, mindfulness and education, facilitative leadership, and sustainable and place-based educational practices.