The Shirley Hord Learning Team Award honors excellence in professional learning. Based on Learning Forward's definition of professional learning, the award recognizes a school team that successfully implements the cycle of continuous learning for professional learning that results in student achievement.
Given by Learning Forward and sponsored by Corwin, this new award serves three purposes:
Increasing application of Learning Forward's definition of effective professional learning;
Recognizing learning teams that have fully implemented the definition in practice; and
Providing models of effective learning teams to support others in implementing the definition.
The award-winning team demonstrates that it uses student learning data to set goals for student and educator learning, engages in collaborative professional learning, taps the expertise of team members and others when appropriate, reflects on the impact of their learning on student achievement, and engages in ongoing improvements. See Learning Forward's full definition of high-quality professional learning.
About Shirley Hord: Since the mid-1990s, Shirley Hord has focused her career on research on the impact of professional learning communities. She has led research teams that have identified the attributes of effective learning teams and benefits to staff and students of collaborative learning and work. More recently she has focused on assisting schools and districts in building structures and acquiring strategies for this form of professional learning. With colleagues, she has written several books focused on her research and recommendations for school leaders. Shirley is Learning Forward's scholar laureate.
About the sponsor: Corwin was established in 1990 to provide practical, research-based professional learning solutions for PreK–12 educators. An affiliate of SAGE, an international company based in southern California, Corwin produces books, multimedia resources, and online courses as part of our mission to support effective professional learning for all educators.
1. Prepare a 10-12 minute video that depicts your school team engaged in the cycle of continuous improvement as described in Learning Forward's definition of professional learning and detailed in Becoming a Learning School. Use the "PD in Action" video clips on our definition page as an example of the professional learning interactions we hope to see. You may also watch an archived webinar explaining the application process.
The video must include identification of the school, district, location, and people included in the film.
The video will be uploaded to a special YouTube site; when the video is ready to submit, contact Tom Manning (tom.manning@learningforward.org) for simple instructions.
2. Submit a document (no more than 5 pages) that includes:
Name of the school, school address, and phone number
Name of contact person, email of contact person, phone number of contact person
Name of school principal
Name of district superintendent and address
Description of how the team exemplifies Learning Forward's definition of professional development, including results the team has achieved over time
Schoolwide results in student achievement over the last three years
List of people included in the video
3. Submit principal's letter of recommendation of the team
4. Submit signed, original release forms from those included in the video giving Learning Forward permission to use the video on its web site. Learning Forward may choose to post multiple videos. Download a talent release form.
Please submit applications to:
Jacqueline Kennedy Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives
Executive Office
17330 Preston Rd., Suite 106-D
Dallas, TX 75252
Voluntary reviewers who are members of Learning Forward will independently score submissions using the Learning School Innovation Configuration Map, Outcome 2.1-2.7 to determine the finalists. This portion of the Learning School Innovation Configuration Map is included. A vote by members will determine the award-winning team.
The winning team will be announced in early June. The award to the learning team includes funds to support a team of three educators from the school to participate in Learning Forward's 2011 Summer Conference. The travel award includes three conference registrations and a total travel stipend of $4,500. The award also includes a $2,500 gift to the school to support collaborative professional learning and a gift of Corwin books for the school's professional library.
2011 - Third-grade team at Clinton Elementary School, Lancaster, S.C.
Learning Forward and Corwin Press announced the third-grade team at Clinton Elementary, Lancaster, S.C., as the winner of the Shirley Hord Learning Team Award. This award is given to a team of teachers who demonstrate Learning Forward's definition of professional development in action.
According to their principal, Rachel Ray, "This team not only impacted their students, but also their colleagues. They understand that their actions have a direct impact on student learning." Schoolwide 70% of students are reading independently on grade level in May 2011 compared to 8% in August 2009. Third grade students have made a 26 percentile point gain in ELA and 28 percentile point gain in math. Using collaboration in professional learning teams, data analysis, analyzing student work, and the support of an instructional facilitator, the percentage of students performing below basic on the state ELA test dropped 52% between 2009 and 2011.
A special thank you to our 2011 reviewers:
Ann Barysh, K-12 Social Studies Director, Randolph Public Schools
Amy Beck, Cluster-Based Instructional Coach, Cardinal Forest Elementary School
Lisa Casto, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development, Allen ISD
Susan Chapman, Instrtuctional Supervisor, McWirter Professional Development Laboratory School
Karla J. Guseman, Curriculum Director for Science and Applied Life, Joliet Township High School
Laura Jackson, Principal, Oaklawn Elementary
Tanya Johnson, Instructional Specialist Coach for Science, Bennett High School
Mary Meshlovitz, K-6 ELA Staff Developer, Buffalo Public Schools
Margaret Psencik, Senior Consultant, Learning Forward
David Stegall, Associate Supprintendent, Newton-Conover City Schools
Dawn Wilson, Executive Director of Professional Learning, Duval County Public Schools
Kelly Winney, Greater Essex County District School Board
Kathleen Yarbrough, Facilitator of Professional Learning, Fulton Schools
2010 - Rocklin Academy, Rocklin, Calif.
Rocklin Academy is a core knowledge school whose teachers are committed to student success. Teachers work together in collaborative learning teams to study and implement research-based instructional strategies to ensure high levels of student academic success.
