FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
LINDA K. TAYLOR
JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
April 5, 2004
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
District Staff Development Directors
FROM:
Ava G. Byrne
SUBJECT:
Drive-in Conference: Professional Learning Communities
Monday, May 3, 2004
From Standard 1.1.6 and 2.1.7: Learning Communities
Learning Communities are small groups of faculty who meet regularly to study more effective
Learning and teaching practices. Learning communities can be effective methods for infusing
Scientifically based research programs into classrooms.
The Florida Department of Education, in support of the
Florida Professional
Development
Evaluation System Protocol
, will host a session on Professional Learning Communities, Monday,
May 3rd, in Orlando (location to be announced) from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Cathy Berlinger-Gustafson, a leading practitioner, researcher, and staff developer, will provide
the nuts and bolts of Professional Learning Communities:
What are professional learning communities and how do they function?
Why are they significant for staff, students and families?
How are learning communities introduced and developed in schools as new
organizational arrangements?
AVA G. BYRNE, CHIEF
BUREAU OF EDUCATOR RECRUITMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 124 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0435
Memorandum
April 5, 2004
Registration is free and you are encouraged to register early for this event as we again anticipate
a full session. Please note that we will not be able to accommodate on-site registrations (meeting
space and materials considerations). Registration is done online by going to
http://www.floridaleaders.net/register/learningcommunities.html and completing the information
requested.
Participants and/or their school district are responsible for all travel related expenses.
Arrangements are being finalized for the conference site and hotel rooms for those requiring an
overnight stay and will be provided on the web site and through email to registered participants.
School-based staff developers, district professional development staff, and teacher leaders are
encouraged to attend this session. For additional information, contact Henry Pollock (850) 245-
0435 or henry.pollock@fldoe.org.
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