Collaborative Expertise Teams
A holistic approach to school and district wide PLC’s
The foundation for school improvement and collective impact on student learning is driven by their PLC structure.
Expertise in teaching is developed over time and can be augmented and scaled up across classrooms through an effective collaborative structure focused on teacher learning!
Are your PLCs having their greatest impact possible? Are teams working hard and seem to be high functioning but not producing desired results? Is there a true focus in LEARNING for the adults?
Is it time for a PLC reset?
Expertise in schools is essential to ensure equity and address the diverse needs of all students!
Collaborative expertise in schools goes beyond experience; it demands continuous professional development and adaptability. By nurturing and scaling up this expertise, educators can transform knowledge into impactful classroom effectiveness.
Schools can scale up expertise and impact achievement through Focused Collaborative actions
Research from The New Teacher Project (TNTP) in 2024 noted of 28,000 schools studied, 5% enabled below-level students to gain over 1.3 years of learning annually, helping them reach grade level by graduation. These schools have sustained this growth for a decade.
Three Foundational Elements were in place in these schools:
Strategic Coherence: The alignment of decisions and actions with a school’s mission ensures that all efforts contribute to educational objectives.
Belonging Through Empowerment: Empowering every educator to take ownership of their roles within a shared mission
Consistency of Action Through Monitoring and Support: Examining the most important evidence to assess instructional quality across all classrooms to provide growth producing feedback mechanisms.
Schools Can Scale Up Expertise Through Their PLC Structure
9 Elements of the Collaborative Expertise Framework
| Relevance to Role | Ensuring defined and understood purpose for ownership |
| Tier 1 Professional Learning | Laser Focus on most impactful adult professional learning with clarity for expected actions and desired outcomes |
| Form Teams for Significant Outcomes not Convenience | Prioritizing adult learning and significant results over convenience |
| Utilize Guiding Questions to Drive Deep Inquiry | Leverage current PLC model questions for true inquiry to determine best actions and approaches |
| Promote Cognitive Diversity | Fostering thriving collaborative environments full of diversity of thinking |
| Ensure Relational Trust and Psychological Safety | Relentless monitoring of feelings of emotional safety where creativity and challenge can thrive |
| Authentic Norms and Commitments | Adhering to agreed adult behaviors for learning, engagement, and professionalism |
| Team Leadership and Cohesion | Ensuring strong team leadership to activate adult learning |
| Scale Up Expertise | Identify, expand, and enhance acumen and exceptional practices |
Collaborative Expertise Teams (CETeams) is a research-driven and evidence-informed approach designed to enhance any school or district’s existing Professional Learning Community (PLC) framework. Continuous focus on teacher learning within collaborative communities is key to transforming teaching cultures to thus impact student achievement (Vescio, 2007).
Additionally, CETeams offers a strategic model and framework for schools embarking or reestablishing collaboration within their school.
How CCE provides PLC / CETeam support for schools and Districts
Assess: We collaborate with school leaders and leadership teams to identify needs and establish objectives
Collaborate: We develop specific deliverable strategies aligned to school and district priorities and structured needs
Implement: Our experts provide coaching, workshops, and specific actionable feedback
Evaluate: We collaboratively develop a plan to monitor progress, refine approaches, and empower educators to sustain growth
Bring the CETeam Model to your school or district
The CETeam model promotes deeper levels of adult engagement in PLCs
From this:
To this:
The Degrees of Engagement in PLCs Continuum© provides a self-assessment framework that defines and describes engagement levels from Divisive to Activating. The instrument encourages reflection, collaboration, and open dialogue, empowering teachers to enhance discussions and drive authentic collective growth. By fostering shared responsibility and purposeful engagement, the tool can amplify PLCs’ impact on teaching practices and student outcomes.
Professional Development for The Collaborative Expertise Team Framework
CETeams Foundation Day(s): Establishing or Re-Setting Your PLCs for Long Term Success and Impact!
These one or two engaging workshops provide participants with an understanding of the Collaborative Expertise Teams Framework
Intended Outcome:
Establishing a Strong Foundation for Successful Collaboration is an Essential Element for Schools to Thrive
Participants will be able to:
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- Enhance collective efficacy within their PLCs
- Apply research and utilize tools that support the CETeam model
- Identify specific measures to enhance clarity for actions in their PLCs.
- Develop specific actions moving forward with success indicators to monitor impact
CETeams Coaching and Implementation Days: Sustain and Scale Your Success
Our implementation days provide custom support to help schools and districts sustain and scale success, with coaching and feedback for growth. Key focus areas include:
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- Coaching for new and established CETeams
- Leadership coaching for instructional leaders
- In-depth exploration of CETeam model to support next steps and areas of need
- Improving collaborative efforts around the areas of: instructional actions, teacher clarity, formative assessments, and grading practices