The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of staff morale and student achievement levels through the formation of a professional learning community at the Ann A. Mullen Middle School in Sicklerville, New Jersey.
The project involved an analysis of the current school culture through small group and individual interviews, a survey, and an examination of the most recent standardized test scores. The researcher involved the entire staff in the creation of a shared mission statement as well as a shared vision statement to form the building blocks of a professional learning community. Teacher study groups were formed, staff meetings focused on group activities and professional development opportunities, and department goals were created.
The researcher has concluded in this study, that the development of a professional learning community is critical to the success of school improvement. As staff members collaborate, share a common mission and vision, and develop goals to move toward that vision, staff morale improves and there is a common focus on student and staff learning.
","abstract_html":"<p>The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of staff morale and student achievement levels through the formation of a professional learning community at the Ann A. Mullen Middle School in Sicklerville, New Jersey.</p> <p>The project involved an analysis of the current school culture through small group and individual interviews, a survey, and an examination of the most recent standardized test scores. The researcher involved the entire staff in the creation of a shared mission statement as well as a shared vision statement to form the building blocks of a professional learning community. Teacher study groups were formed, staff meetings focused on group activities and professional development opportunities, and department goals were created.</p> <p>The researcher has concluded in this study, that the development of a professional learning community is critical to the success of school improvement. As staff members collaborate, share a common mission and vision, and develop goals to move toward that vision, staff morale improves and there is a common focus on student and staff learning.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Acerba, Joanne T."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"M.A. in Educational Administration","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Educational Services and Leadership","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Kern, Robert"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2003,"date_issued":"2003-04-30T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2003-04-30T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:14:13Z","subjects":["Ann A. Mullen Middle School (Sicklerville, N.J.); School management and organization","Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1254","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Kern, Robert"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Acerba, Joanne T."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-05-01T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Educational Services and Leadership"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.A. in Educational Administration"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Ann A. Mullen Middle School (Sicklerville, N.J.); School management and organization","Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1254"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of staff morale and student achievement levels through the formation of a professional learning community at the Ann A. Mullen Middle School in Sicklerville, New Jersey.
The project involved an analysis of the current school culture through small group and individual interviews, a survey, and an examination of the most recent standardized test scores. The researcher involved the entire staff in the creation of a shared mission statement as well as a shared vision statement to form the building blocks of a professional learning community. Teacher study groups were formed, staff meetings focused on group activities and professional development opportunities, and department goals were created.
The researcher has concluded in this study, that the development of a professional learning community is critical to the success of school improvement. As staff members collaborate, share a common mission and vision, and develop goals to move toward that vision, staff morale improves and there is a common focus on student and staff learning.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Building a professional learning community"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Kern, Robert"],"dc:creator":["Acerba, Joanne T."],"dc:date.available":["2016-05-01T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of staff morale and student achievement levels through the formation of a professional learning community at the Ann A. Mullen Middle School in Sicklerville, New Jersey.
The project involved an analysis of the current school culture through small group and individual interviews, a survey, and an examination of the most recent standardized test scores. The researcher involved the entire staff in the creation of a shared mission statement as well as a shared vision statement to form the building blocks of a professional learning community. Teacher study groups were formed, staff meetings focused on group activities and professional development opportunities, and department goals were created.
The researcher has concluded in this study, that the development of a professional learning community is critical to the success of school improvement. As staff members collaborate, share a common mission and vision, and develop goals to move toward that vision, staff morale improves and there is a common focus on student and staff learning.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1254"],"dc:subject":["Ann A. Mullen Middle School (Sicklerville, N.J.); School management and organization","Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration"],"dc:title":["Building a professional learning community"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Educational Services and Leadership"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.A. in Educational Administration"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:14:13Z"}