Sonoma Leadership Network
The Sonoma Leadership Network, now in its fifth year, brings together district teams to study and implement the research, best practices, and effective strategies used by high-performing, gap-closing schools. The goal of this initiative is systems change creating urgency, intensity, coherence, and focus on student learning system-wide.
With meetings scheduled throughout the school year, the Network is an ongoing professional development opportunity for teams of district leaders, principals, and teacher-leaders. Each session is dedicated to the study and implementation of research-based strategies that improve student achievement and narrow the achievement gap. Participants will leave every session with tools, strategies, and protocols they can use immediately. Time for teams to create action plans and next steps for implementation is incorporated into each scheduled meeting.
In 2009-10, two Sonoma Leadership Network cohorts will be offered to serve both new and continuing teams. Each group will participate in four all-day meetings scheduled during the school year. Teams may also select a participation option that includes two additional facilitated half-day sessions held at their school or district site.
Year 1 Cohort
Professional Learning Communities:
Digging Deeper, Getting Better & Improving Learning for All
The Year 1 Cohort will focus on closing the achievement gap through the development of professional learning communities (PLCs). Cohort 1 professional development sessions are designed for schools and districts that want to learn more about the PLC process, discover its benefits for students and staff, and develop a road map for implementation. Content for the four Network sessions will dig deeper into the four essential questions of a PLC:
- What do we want students to learn?
- How will we know they have learned it?
- What will we do if students dont learn it?
- What will we do when students learn it or already know it?
Year 1 Cohort meetings for 2009-10 are scheduled for October 22, November 2, February 5, and April 7. In addition, half-day facilitated meetings are held at district sites in December and March for those teams that select this level of participation.
Year 1 Cohort, Team Registration Flier (pdf)
Advanced Cohort
Next Steps in the PLC Journey:
Taking on Culture, Accountability & Grading Practices
The Advanced Cohort brings together teams that have prior Sonoma Leadership Network experience to deepen their understanding and implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs). Participating teams will dig deeper into essential foundations and structures to sustain highly effective PLCs as they explore how to:
- Create, expand, and sustain a supportive, collaborative culture and address toxic resistance
- Embed fair and supportive accountability at every level of the system to ensure that student learning goals are met
- Address ineffective and unfair grading practices and move all students to standards-based grading
- Develop an ongoing districtwide review protocol that promotes and documents school/district successes via artifacts and video records.
Advanced Cohort meetings for 2009-10 are scheduled for September 21, November 5, January 21, and March 18. A pre-session meeting on September 9 is required for any new team members.