The Plymouth Community School Board heard a presentation during the March 5 meeting from Kyle Palmer of Solution Tree, a professional development company that has been working with the Plymouth Schools for the past two years. The company’s contract renewal with the schools was on the agenda for the meeting.
Solution Tree supports what is called a “Professional Learning Community” to support teachers and support the learning of students within a collaborative culture.
Palmer told the board the focus of the PLC is on results of improved learning, shared values among the schools and teachers, mission, behaviors, and a focus on goals.
He said the focus was not on teaching but on learning. He stated the process adds clarity to teachers that leads to continuous improvement.
The company provides instructional coaches for each school and makes regular visits to each school to help move forward with instructional goals.
Lincoln Jr. High Principal Reid Gault who was at the meeting to provide an update on his schools gave an endorsement of the program saying that it “…kept all the arrows in the same direction…” between the corporation schools and teachers at all levels.
The board approved the extension of the contract with Solution Tree for the 2024-25 school year.
Gault went on the tell the board that his school had made some changes and seen improvement in the current school year.
Lincoln has extended class periods in core classes — Math, Science, and English — to 65 minutes. He said that growth in Math saw more students at the proficient or above proficient level and a decline in those below proficient.
