During the 2011-2012 school year in-service opportunities for teachers will focus on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).  According to Dr. Richard DuFour, PLC author, a professional learning community is "a group of educators committed to working collaboratively in ongoing processes of collective inquiry and active research in order to achiever better results for student they serve.  PLC's operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous, job-imbedded learning for educators." The PLC forum allows teachers to come together to share data, including classroom performance and testing results.  It allows teachers to share effective research-based learning strategies, as well as appropriate interventions and enrichments for individual students.

Teacher collaboration days are another important part of our district’s in-service efforts. Eight times a year teachers have an opportunity to spend a half day working in teams to problem solve, share ideas, and address student needs. This is the fifth year of collaboration and the teachers of USD 458 have found the time extremely worthwhile.