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:
Foreword Acknowledgments Publisher’s Acknowledgments About the Authors Part 1. The Breaking Point—And the Blueprint A Tough Truth Urgency in the Teacher Workforce It Goes Deeper Stop Looking Across the Street—Look Inside A Path Forward: What Data Tell Us Systems Thinking and Collaborative Expertise Are Nonnegotiable Chapter 1. The Need for Expertise The Quest for Expertise The Need for Expertise in Teaching Examples of Enhancing Probability The Need to Scale Expertise in Our Schools Chapter 2. Unlocking Potential: Dismantling Barriers to Collaborative Educational Expertise Collaboration: True Potential Catalyst for Driving Collective Expertise It Takes More Than a Model Failed to Live Up to Their Promise Chapter 3. A Model for Developing Collaborative Expertise A Vision for the Future Conclusion Part 2. Collaborative Expertise Team FrameworkTM for Impact The Nine CETeam Frameworks for Driving Impactful Collaboration Maximizing Impact: The Interdependence of All Nine Frameworks Chapter 4. Framework 1: Relevance to Role Lack of Relevance = Lack of Engagement 2. Align Macro Goals With Micro Actions Example: Empowering Belonging in PLC Settings: Goal to Action Clarity Prioritizing Collaborative Time Spent on Goals Example: Willow Creek Elementary (45-minute weekly PLC) 3. Ensure Transparent Purpose for ALL Aspects of Collaboration Conclusion Chapter 5. Framework 2: Tier 1 Professional Learning: Aligning PL?PLCs Expertise Is Built by Professional Learning, Not Training Monitoring Consistency: Staying the Course in Professional Learning Chapter 6. Framework 3: Teams of Significant Impact Build for Impact Not (Just) Convenience The Structure Must Support the Purpose Conclusion Chapter 7. Framework 4: Guiding Questions Drive Deep Inquiry Consistency of Your Inquiry Model Digging Deeper into Guiding Questions With a What, Why, How Approach Conclusion Chapter 8. Framework 5: Cognitive Diversity, The Power of Thinking Differently—Together Utilizing Cognitive Diversity as a Driver of Team Effectiveness and Impact From Like-Minded to Impact-Minded Conclusion Chapter 9. Framework 6: Ensuring Relational Trust and Psychological Safety Culture is What You Do; Climate Is How It Feels Psychological Safety: The Fuel for the Fire Critical Need for Psychological Safety in Schools Trust: The Key That Unlocks Potential Three Types of Trust, With Relational Trust as the North Star Cohesive Commitments Driven by Developing Shared Commitments (Values) Chapter 10. Framework 7: Authentic Norms and Commitments to Drive Effective Collaboration Norms Extend Beyond Education Norms Drive Authentic Adult Engagement Establishing Norms for All Fundamental Aspects of Collaboration Co-Constructing Norms Chapter 11. Framework 8: Team Leadership and Cohesion: The Anchor of Impactful Collaboration Fostering Cohesion: The Role of PLC Leaders in Developing Collaborative Expertise 1. PLC Leaders/Activators Establish and Protect Strategic Focus 2. PLC Leaders/Activators Ensure a Businesslike and Mature Approach for Collaboration 3. PLC Leaders/Activators Support Team in Clarifying Roles and Maintaining Accountability 4. Capitalize on Strengths to Maximize Collective Expertise 5. Designing Purposeful PLC Work Through Consistent Use Routines, Protocols, and Adaptive Action Systemizing Team Collaboration for Maximum Impact Chapter 12. Framework 9: Scaling Success: How to Expand Collaborative Expertise Across Your School Scaling Success in Schools: Five Drivers of Scalable Impact Driver 1: Clarifying Core Practices—Monitoring What Matters Most Quick Summary Driver 2: Create Conditions for Endurance and Driver 3: Streamline for Replication Driver 4: Empower Ownership and Driver 5: Embrace Adaptive Growth Putting It All Together—Scaling for Success Avoiding Regression—Working Through the PIT Conclusion: Scaling Success Is the Work Chapter 13. A Call to Action, the Courage to Transform Schools Embracing Strategic Coherence Cultivating Belonging Through Empowerment Ensuring Consistency of Action Leveraging Collaborative Expertise The Courageous Path Forward References Index