PLC+ The Texas Way

Douglas Fisher is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Fisher was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design, as well as books such as Your Introduction to PLC+, Welcome to Teaching, How Feedback Works, Teaching Reading, and RIGOR Unveiled. Fisher loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others. Kierstan Barbee holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and literacy from the University of Houston. She brings 20 years of education-related experience in PreK-12 settings. She has served as a secondary English Language Arts teacher, academic coach, and professional development supervisor in urban districts as well as a project manager of assessment for learning, which involved creating system-wide professional learning programming for central staff and campuses that promoted the spread of research- and evidence informed practices to maximize teaching and learning. Through an emphasis on relationship-building and human-centered design principles, Kierstan has coached PreK-12 principals, teachers, and district leaders on pedagogical practices that promote equity and student agency in learning. John Almarode is a professor of education at James Madison University. He was awarded the inaugural Sarah Miller Luck Endowed Professorship in 2015 and received an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia in 2021. John started as a mathematics and science teacher in Augusta County, Virginia. John has written multiple books, book chapters, papers, and reports. His collaborative work with colleagues on what works best in teaching and learning includes How Tutoring Works, Visible Learning in Early Childhood, and How Learning Works, all with Corwin Press. Nancy Frey is a professor in educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Her published titles include The Courage to Learn, The Art and Science of Coaching, How Scaffolding Works, and The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning. Frey is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California and learns from teachers and students every day.

Foreword Texas PLC+ Advisory Board Publisher's Acknowledgments About the Authors INTRODUCTION: A Look Back: A Road Map for Moving Forward in PLCs PART I: THRIVING TOGETHER WITH PLC+ QUESTION 1: Where Are We Now? QUESTION 2: Where Are We Going? QUESTION 3: How Do We Move Learning Forward? QUESTION 4: What Did We Learn Today? QUESTION 5: Who Benefited, and Who Did Not? PART II: PLC+ TOOLS AND PROTOCOLS Getting Started Where Are We Now? Where Are We Going? How Do We Move Learning Forward? What Did We Learn Today? Who Benefited, and Who Did Not? Endnotes Index

PLC+ The Texas Way is the perfect tool for every team of teachers who is working to elevate the efficacy of their PLC team! This books recognizes the challenges PLC teams face and provides tools that will support educators as they strive to maximize their impact on student learning. This text is a must read for teams in education and is an indispensable tool for teams looking to have reflective conversations that will drive their students' learning forward. I highly recommend this text to any team of educators who want to elevate their teaching and reflective practices. By providing educators with the necessary tools and practices, this book is keeping PLCs focused on the important things-on every student's growth! -- Anna Moss * Birdville ISD * Schools using HQIM will find PLC+ The Texas Way relevant and useful in utilizing strong curriculum and instructional strategies for their students. The research and strategies here will guide teachers and administrators in improving teaching and raising student performance. -- Dr. Edmond Martinez * Horizon High School, El Paso, TX * Reading this book provided a clear refresher on why the PLC process is so important and how it can impact the growth of teacher instructional practices in the ongoing learning process. This book offers a clear and practical guide to understanding and implementing the PLC process, with thoughtful guiding questions, accessible vocabulary explanations, and highly useful tools such as teacher checklists and Look/Listen For tables. The strong organizational structure and consistent acknowledgement of collaboration-especially the powerful "Collective Effervescence" section-make it both inspiring and actionable for educators and leaders. With more intentional targeting for newer teachers who may need additional clarity around foundational expectations and terminology, this book has the potential to be an essential resource for strengthening instructional practice through PLCs. -- Kennetha Moore * Dallas, TX * [PLC+ The Texas Way] offers a clear, practical lens for strengthening high-performing teams by making learning visible, not just teaching. It challenges educators to reflect honestly on their practices while providing language that supports meaningful, student-centered conversations. A valuable resource for teams committed to improving instructional impact. -- Yamila Musa-Vega * Dallas, TX * PLC+ The Texas Way bridges theory and practice in a way that feels both accessible and immediately actionable across all grade levels and contents. By combining detailed protocols with a flexible, context-responsive structure, it equips teachers and leaders with tools to build powerful PLCs that are responsive, dynamic, and rooted in collective ownership of student learning. -- Colin Davis * Uplift Education, Dallas, TX *