WCPSS Earns National Award for Learning Teams
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WCPSS Department of Evaluation and Research review of Professional Learning Communities
July 9, 2008 - The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) and Pearson Achievement Solutions have named the Wake County Public School System one of three exemplary learning teams for 2008. WCPSS has been recognized for its "outstanding work in moving toward a collaborative model focused on improving student achievement" by using Professional Learning Communities in its schools and departments. WCPSS was one of 52 nominees for the award.
NCTAF noted that WCPSS uses learning teams as "the way we do business from the Board room to the classroom," using common objectives and assessments to determine how students are performing and where they need help. Through the efforts of the Regional Partnership for High School Excellence (High Five), composed of five major corporations and five regional school systems, teachers and central services staff have been formally trained in student-focused continuous improvement strategies.
"We are grateful for this recognition because it reinforces the importance of truly working together, understanding each student's individual needs, and holding ourselves and each other accountable for student learning," said Dr. Del Burns, WCPSS superintendent. "We owe a lot to our teachers and staff who have embraced Professional Learning Communities and to the High Five Partnership for providing the resources that began this journey."
WCPSS will be recognized at an awards luncheon at the 2008 NCTAF Symposium in Washington, DC, on July 11. WCPSS representatives will speak about the school system's experience in implementing Professional Learning Communities and their impact on learning and teaching.