Meaningful professional development for teachers has been found to be job embedded, teacher-driven, and focused on actual student work. Teachers in individual schools or across disciplines coming together to learn from examination of their students' work is one of the most valuable forms of professional development. The Rochester Teacher Center, Rochester Teachers Association, and the Rochester City School District are encouraging this kind of professional learning among teachers. In order to facilitate ongoing, collegial development initiatives, the RTC is pleased to offer support for teams of teachers wishing to form or formalize Collegial Learning Circles. Collegial learning circles are small groups of learners who are engaged in their own professional development and are gathered to support each other's learning.Funds are intended to support efforts that engage educators in reflection and growth, keep content and pedaogical knowledge current, and improve culturally responsive child-centered instructional practices to result in increased student learning. These efforts may take various forms. Examples include:

• professional readings and discussions;
• classroom application of new learning;
• work with parents and families or consultants;
• peer observations and coaching;
• classroom demonstration lessons;
• materials development and curriculum writing;
• examination, sharing, and discussion of student work; and
• connecting parents/families to the curriculum .

Up to $900 will be available to support the work of the circle. In addition, facilitators of each collegial learning circle will receive a stipend of $1100. Circles focused on English language arts and math learning that reflect culturally responsive student-centered pedagogies will be eligible to receive additional support from specialists in these fields.
Facilitators will be responsible for:

• attending and participating in facilitator preparation and support seminars at the RTC from 4-6 p.m., October 1, 29, November 1(Sat., a.m.), December 12, January 14, February 7 (Sat., a.m.), April 1, May 28;
• facilitating a group compact that outlines the group's agreement regarding purpose, meeting schedule, final product, and method of evaluating expectations;
• ensuring regular communication among members of the collegial learning circle;
• writing about the group's work for possible publication;
  
• disbursing grant funds;
  
• coordinating or compiling a final group product; and
  
• completing and submitting the circle's self assessment.

Circle members will be awarded District endorsed professional development hours upon completion of circle commitments and products. Circles are also responsible for attending at least one CLC session, February 7, 2008 or May 28, 2009.

Grants will be awarded based on their ability to contribute to effective practice and enhanced knowledge.

The deadline for submission of proposals is September 22, 2008. All projects must be completed by May 15, 2009. Have questions or want to discuss your ideas? Please contact Susan Goodwin, RTC Director at 262-8080.

Please download Collegial Learning Circle application, complete and return to the Teacher Center via courier, fax (262-8083), or email: ymontalvo@rochesterteachers.com.

Collegial Learning Circle Application