Reculturing Schools As Professional Learning Communities

The concept of "professional learning community" (as developed by Shirley Hord) is advanced by Huffman (education, U. of North Texas) and Hipp (education, Cardinal Stritch U.) as a way to improve educational institutions in the United States. After explaining the concept and describing exemplars and non-exemplars of implementation, they present case studies from five schools. Each case study focuses on a particular facet of the "professional learning community" model, such as the role of trust or the task of reculturing. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jane Bumpers Huffman is an associate professor in the College of Education at the University of North Texas in Denton and teaches in the master's and doctoral programs. Huffman also serves as her department's program coordinator for Educational Administration and has been instrumental in receiving eight grants. Her research interests include change management, professional development, leadership, professional learning communities, and parent involvement. Huffman has also directed the annual Assistant Principals' Conference in Texas for the past six years. Huffman worked in the Norman, Oklahoma public schools for ten years as a teacher, school administrator, and staff development administrator. She also served as a Research Assistant at Southwest Educational Develpment Laboratory in Austin, Texas. Contact Janie at huffman@unt.edu or 940-565-2832.

Kristine Kiefer Hipp is an associate professor in the College of Education at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She teaches in a master's program in Educational Leadership and a doctoral program in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service. Hipp consults widely, facilitating organizational change in K-12 schools/districts related to her research in leadership, professional learning communities, and collective efficacy. Hipp also taught in a Master's program in Educational Leadership at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She worked for the School District of Janesville for 25 years as a special education teacher/support teacher, district level staff developer, graduate-level adjunct at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, research assistant at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and consultant in effective teaching practices. Contact Kris at kahipp@stritch.edu or 414-410-4346.