What happens on Wednesdays when Gilbert teachers meet

For Gilbert Public Schools students, Wednesdays typically mean an early release from school and an extra hour at home.

But for GPS teachers, Wednesdays are a dedicated day for professional development.

On early release days, teachers and staff stay at their schools to participate in "Professional Learning Communities," or PLCs, essential professional growth and development sessions that help staff grow and positively impact their classrooms.

PLCs are not just lectures and presentations that teachers and staff sit through — they focus on collaboration, data, and growth. In PLCs, teachers might come together to learn about a new curriculum, review their school’s Continuous Improvement Plan or outline their priorities for the coming months.

This collaborative time enables teachers and staff to share strategies, recognize accomplishments and learn from one another, ensuring that everyone is working together to create an effective learning environment for our students, according to the district.

For example, Neely Traditional Academy welcomed teachers from Spectrum Elementary and Canyon Rim Elementary to its campus for a math training session, which included a workshop focused on strategies to encourage student thinking, reasoning and problem-solving in the classroom.

Similarly, staff at Ashland Ranch Elementary have used PLCs to spend time reflecting and reviewing data, celebrating successes and setting goals for the school year.

Those interested in learning more about PLCs, including information about curriculum, can visit GilbertSchools.net/Teaching-Learning.