Before this fall, most administrators in the Newburgh City School District had never set foot inside the Newburgh Teachers Association union office.
But now that the NYSUT Professional Learning Communities program is gaining district momentum, a host of administrators have made the trip — all participants in a NYSUT-sponsored series of trainings aimed at raising student achievement throughout the district. And Patty Van Duser, president of the Newburgh TA, couldn't be happier.
"The program is absolutely fantastic," Van Duser said. "And just having the administrators come to our building is nice — this is our union home, and we're proud to showcase it."
The Newburgh TA is one of five NYSUT-affiliated locals participating in the statewide union's groundbreaking Professional Learning Communities program, an initiative that helps administrators and educators work together to improve student performance.
Working together
Funded through a grant from the National Education Association, a NYSUT national affiliate, the two-year pilot provides free, on-site professional development and ongoing support through NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust for five Contract for Excellence districts. The participating locals are Newburgh, Fulton, Utica, Geneva and Dunkirk TAs.
The program, launched last year, uses peer analysis — district educators and administrators meeting in small groups, called protocols — to collaboratively address classroom challenges.
"This is an example of how NYSUT members are working together, as educators, to both address the underlying causes that hinder student success and to develop new strategies to help turn around struggling schools," said Maria Neira, NYSUT vice president.
"But teachers can't do it alone, nor should they. We all share a collective responsibility for helping students achieve — that's why partnering with administrators is such an important part of this program," she said.
Annette M. Saturnelli, superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School district, is grateful Newburgh was selected.
"This program is a way for us to improve our teaching and learning environment … and continue our partnership with the Newburgh TA and NYSUT," she said.
The initiative underscores NYSUT's commitment to helping educators take charge of their professions.
"It's important that we help shape change in our educational system," Neira said. "And doing so requires that we offer meaningful input and make our voices heard."
Brainstorming solutions
The small-group protocols are the core of the PLC program. These follow a structured format and include a group facilitator.
The process is simple — one educator shares a classroom challenge, and group members provide feedback.
"For instance, a teacher might discuss a lesson that simply didn't get the expected results," said Lynne Eckert who, with fellow ELT instructor Lynda DeLuca, traveled to the districts this summer and fall to provide program training.
"The educator presents the material, allows the group to look it over and ask clarifying questions, and takes notes on the group's feedback," Eckert explained.
Making a difference
Feedback is categorized as warm, highlighting strengths of the work, or cool, highlighting gaps in the material. The goal is to foster a more team-oriented approach to teaching and learning, Eckert said.
"We have a saying in our district — 'what happens in the group stays in the group.' Once educators realized it was a safe place to bring their concerns, many opened up," said Christine Golden, Utica TA interim president. "Getting feedback from people who really understand what it's like to be in the classroom is helpful."
A long-range NYSUT goal is embedding the PLC process into the fabric of the districts. "That way, they will continue using peer collaboration long after the pilot program has ended," said Debra Nelson, director of the NYSUT Education & Learning Trust. She said the union also hopes eventually to expand the program statewide.
"The program has been absolutely successful in our district — it's making a difference," said Paul Darnall, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Geneva City School District.
"NYSUT and the Geneva City School district are working together to improve student achievement, and we're finding solutions that work," said Joy Martin, president of the Geneva TA.
Dave Derouchie, Fulton TA president, agrees. "We have teachers, administrators, counselors, psychologists all working together on protocol teams," he said.
Fulton has now seen two of its schools taken off the Schools in Need of Improvement list.
Newburgh's Van Duser is also seeing benefits. "Educators and administrators in my district are communicating and working together better," she said. "We're really walking the walk and collaborating."