Professional Learning Communities: Do Leadership Practices Impact Implementation and Sustainability and What Is the Relationship Between A School'S Plc and A School'S Climate?

<p>Research indicates that a theoretical framework known as a professional learning community can make a positive difference in schools. This mixed-method study examines teacher perceptions of school leadership and climate in two rural elementary schools in South Carolina. Using interviews, focus group sessions and a survey, the researcher answers two questions: 1) To what extent do instructional leadership practices impact the implementation and sustainability of a professional learning community within a rural school system? 2) What is the nature of the relationship between the implementation of a professional learning community and school climate?</p> <p>This study found a strong correlation between leadership and the implementation and sustainability of a school's professional learning community. A school system needs administrative leadership that understands the PLC concepts and competently leads the school with a strong commitment to success. The organizational framework known as a professional learning community was highly valued at these two schools and each school's PLC had a positive impact on school climate.</p> <p>This study will contribute to the body of knowledge on professional learning communities and may be used to encourage school leaders to examine the characteristics of a PLC in order to understand a PLC's effectiveness. The study provides pertinent information regarding the development, implementation and sustainability of professional learning communities. The study indicates that creating a professional learning community provides solutions educators need to address challenges facing schools. Additionally, the study may serve as a reference to administrators and teachers who may seek to embrace the concept of professional learning community for their schools.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Campus Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership and Policies

Year

2010

Author dc:creator

• Moore, Theresa Jones

Contributors dc:contributor

• Peter Moyi

• Education
• Educational Administration and Supervision
• Leadership
• professional Learning Communities
• School Climate

Statement dc:rights

• © 2010, Theresa Jones Moore

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/225

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarcommons.sc.edu:etd-1226