Many teachers are living a childhood fantasy: they are shepherding 20+ students each day through activities of academic, social, and emotional growth. Each student looks to the teacher as the final authority on nearly every decision in the classroom. Other teachers have escaped the stresses and disillusionment of the private sector so that they can “work with kids.”
These aren’t bad motivations to embark on a career as an educator. They’re just not sufficient for achieving professional results. Here’s the rub: it takes more than a single teacher to grow a twenty-first century student.
The fundamental assumption of professional learning communities is this: students grow more when teachers work together toward a common goal. Many teachers, however, did not sign up to work with other teachers.
Is it possible to convince teachers that a cohesive community is better for students than a bunch of isolated teachers in individual classrooms?
