From left, Manor School Assistant Principal Michelle Hildreth, Manor School Principal Joelle Weaver and HF-L’s Director of Professional Development Holly Sidebottom hold the banner that Manor School received for the Model Professional Learning Community at Work designation. Photo by Leah Shepard
Manor Intermediate School recently earned the prestigious title of a Model Professional Learning Community at Work™ by Solution Tree, joining an elite group of approximately 600 schools worldwide.
The recognition reflects Manor’s outstanding commitment to ensuring high levels of learning for all students through the successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work™ process, and a willingness to adapt organizational structure and culture to align with their unwavering commitment.
The school’s sustained success in improving student outcomes and dedication to ongoing, job-embedded professional learning for educators have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.
Joelle Weaver, Principal of Manor Intermediate School, expressed great pride in this achievement, stating, “For the past 10 years we have stayed committed to our path, of every student, every day – whatever it takes! Our teachers craft their products with diligence. Their daily pursuit of excellence and hard work has not gone unnoticed. They are the ultimate gift to our students.”
Holly Sidebottom, Director of Professional Development for the Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District, explained that PLCs are schools in which educators recognize that the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students.
The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:
- Focus on learning with a shared purpose.
- Build a collaborative culture of collective responsibility.
- Create a results orientation for continuous improvement.
- Collaborative teams in a PLC engage in an on-going cycle of collective inquiry about student learning, guided by four essential questions:
- What do all students need to know or be able to do? (Essential Standards and Learning Targets)
- How will we know that they have learned it? (Common Assessments)
- How will we support students who haven’t learned it? (Intervention)
- How will we support students who have already learned it? (Extension)
The recognition of Model PLC schools is based on rigorous criteria, including a demonstrated commitment to PLC concepts, a minimum of three years of implementation, and clear evidence of improved student learning outcomes. Manor successfully met these criteria, underscoring its dedication to the principles of PLCs and the positive impact on student achievement.
Responding to the news of the recognition, Superintendent Gene Mancuso remarked, “I am extremely proud of the students, teachers, and staff at Manor Intermediate for their hard work and dedication in achieving this recognition. This is truly a testament to the school’s commitment to continuous improvement and providing a high-quality education and professional learning opportunities for all. Ten years ago, when I introduced the problem-solving concept of plan, do, study, act, I could only imagine that one of the schools in Honeoye Falls-Lima would become so proficient to be recognized as an international model school for not only following that process but making it their own. We will continue to strive for excellence and provide the best possible education for our students.”
To foster collaboration and knowledge sharing, Manor, along with other recognized Model PLC schools, are listed on allthingsplc.info. This platform enables educators interested in school improvement to access implementation strategies, structures, and performance data from these exemplary institutions. The website, developed and maintained by Solution Tree, also offers valuable tools for team collaboration, articles, research, blog posts, and additional resources related to PLCs.
Manor Intermediate School’s recognition as a Model Professional Learning Community at Work™ highlights its commitment to excellence and its dedication to empowering students through collaborative and results-oriented practices. The school’s achievements serve as an inspiration to educators and administrators across the globe striving to enhance student learning outcomes.
To learn more about Manor’s PLC journey, visit AllThingsPLC.com
