Warren High School Professional Development

Blaine Alexander of the Arkansas
Leadership Academy

On Friday, February 17, the staff of Warren High School came together in professional development meeting to discuss their vision for WHS and to begin work on a plan to achieve that vision.  The faculty gathered in the media center, sitting with their individual professional learning communities (PLC's), and began by crafting names for their learning groups.  After this, the staff, under the leadership of Blaine Alexander, worked together to establish their core beliefs.  Each staff member finished the stem sentence "The thing I believe about teaching and leaning is..." The individual responses were compiled into one list of core beliefs that every staff member agreed is essential to their jobs as educators.  These will be the guiding principles behind everything that is done at WHS.

The group also participated in an activity designed to make them aware of their attitudes toward change.  Each member was asked to identify with the watercraft that best describes him or her:  a speedboat, a rowboat, a cruise liner, a party barge, or a jet ski.  After an explanation of each of the watercrafts, staff members had the opportunity to change.  This exercise pinpointed one's likely response to the change process--going from the rowboat that moves slowly and lazily to the jet ski that zooms ahead eager to be the first on one board with a new idea.

The 9th grade PLC discusses their core beliefs.

The group also watched an enlightening video about professional learning communities and heard firsthand the benefits and advantages of the "PLC way of life" in a school community.

Finally, staff reflected on the SAI surveys which they had completed earlier in the year.  Looking at the survey results within the backdrop of the conversation of the day helped the staff pinpoint weaknesses and strengths and discuss ways for improvement.

The sophomore PLC assigns "Table Talk Roles".

Mr. Gene Raines explains the selected name for the freshman PLC.