About the Book

Transform your school teams into engines of student growth

Despite significant investment, many schools struggle to translate professional learning efforts into measurable student achievement. The challenge isn′t a lack of will but a need for a new approach—one that moves beyond mandated meetings that lack impact to cultivating genuine collaborative expertise.

Developing Collaborative Expertise Teams provides a clear, research-based blueprint for school and district leaders to transform how their teams work together and align efforts and actions to desired goals and outcomes. Drawing on Visible Learning research and proven strategies from high-performing organizations, the authors introduce a framework for designing and sustaining teams that maximizes impact and growth. Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your teams

With this book, you’ll learn to:

• Determine core essential actions that unite the efforts of all the adults in your school or system
• Embrace a nine-element framework to foster authentic collaboration, psychological safety, and a shared commitment to student learning
• Utilize a variety of practical tools, including vignettes, case studies, self-assessments, instruments, and reflection logs, to effectively guide team development and track progress toward shared goals
• Align professional learning with PLC actions to ensure new knowledge is applied effectively in the classroom, bridging the "knowing doing" gap
• Strengthen your existing PLC model by integrating strategies that enhance team leadership, cohesion, and a focus on high-impact outcomes

This book offers a powerful blend of insights and strategies that leaders can implement immediately. By investing in the people and practices that matter most, you can create a system of connected classrooms, teams, and structures that lead to lasting success for all students.

Table of Contents:
Dedication About the authors Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1: The Breaking Point—And the Blueprint Chapter 1:The Need for Expertise Chapter 2: Unlocking Potential: Dismantling Barriers to Collaborative Educational Expertise Chapter 3: A Model for Developing Collaborative Expertise Part 2: Collaborative Expertise Team Framework for Impact Chapter 4: Framework 1: Relevance to Role Chapter 5: Framework 2: High Leverage Professional Learning: Aligning PL?PLCs Chapter 6: Framework 3 : Structuring Collaboration for Significant Outcomes Chapter 7: Framework 4: Impactful Inquiry: Leveraging the Impact of Guiding Questions Chapter 8: Framework 5: Cognitive Diversity, The Power of Thinking Differently—Together Chapter 9: Framework 6: Ensuring Relational Trust and Psychological Safety Chapter 10: Framework 7: Authentic Norms and Commitments to Drive Effective Collaboration Chapter 11: Framework 8: Team Leadership and Cohesion: The Anchor of Impactful Collaboration Chapter 12: Framework 9: Scaling Success: How to Expand Collaborative Expertise Across Your School Chapter 13: A Call to Action, the Courage to Transform Schools References Foreword