1. Transforming Understandings
to Transform Practice
A Professional Learning Classroom Residency
Model
Charlotte Butler, Instructional Coordinator Secondary Literacy
Cari Roberts, District Coach/LCR Instructor
Michelle Otte, District Coach/5th Block LCR Instructor
Ivan Duran, Director, Instructional Technology
Linda Damon, Director, Professional Learning
Susan Olezene, Director, Curriculum, Instruction & Professional
Learning

2. Who are we?
Here is a small quot;snapshotquot; of the
students in our district...

3. Fast Facts about APS
Total enrollment for our district is around 32,000
Native American……….9%
Asian……….3.9%
Black……….20.5%
Hispanic……….49.6%
White……….25.1%
We are the sixth-largest district in Colorado.

Our students come from over 100 countries and speak more

than 90 languages.
Second language learners make up 36% of our student

population. 80% of those speak Spanish as their first
language.
54% of our students receive free or reduced lunch


4. Where are we? Denver
International Airport

5. APS LEADERSHIP
SUCCESSION CONTINUUM
Building Capacity at Every Level

6. APS VISION FOR
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Theory of Action: The greatest impact on student
achievement is the knowledge and skills of the
teacher
ASSUMPTIONS CONSTRUCTS IMPLEMENTATION
Theory of Action: Greatest Teaching-Learning Cycle: Systematic
impact on student achievement Assess, Evaluate, Plan, Teach
is knowledge and skills of the and monitor
teacher
Brian Cambourne’s Conditions
Desired Outcome: Learning 1:1 Coaching
should occur every day for all of Learning
adults
Reading process Small Group Peer Learning
Writing process
Language development
Reflective process Job-embedded

7. APS VISION FOR COACHING
Professional Learning Support within a
Standards-based Instructional System
• Capacity-building model to increase
collective effectiveness of the system
• Standards-based formative & District
level
summative data to inform decision-
making
• Instructional leadership at every level
Building
as key to system transformation
level
• On-going, job-embedded support for
professional learning and instructional Focus on
Student
expertise with a focus on results
Learning
• Supported by Coaching Agreement
developed in collaboration with AEA
• Clear separation between coaching
and evaluation process

8. APS VISION FOR INSTRUCTIONAL
TECHNOLOGY
Integrated Technology-rich
Environments to Support Instruction
Technology is a tool that

needs to be infused into
teachers’ practice
Developing and understanding

what is possible is essential –
build the vision
Consistent and ongoing

training is critical
It is not about the tools, it is

about the learning

9. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING LABORATORY
CLASSROOM RESIDENCY
What is an LCR?
• Extended time for immersion in
Readers/Writers Workshop
• District Literacy Coach instructor
• Integrated technology solutions to
support instruction
• Hands-on, supported practice
LCR
• Reflective cycle video study of
instruction & evidence of student
learning
• Selected professional
reading, written reflection & case
studies
• Focused planning for transition to
own practice in home building

10. Readers/Writers Workshop with integrated
technology to support instruction
Inside Readers/Writers Workshop

11. Reflecting on practice: Examining Reflecting on practice: Finding
a reading demonstration evidence of student learning
Inside the LCR Pedagogy Class

12. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
LCR ALUMNI NETWORK
Sustaining & extending the
learning
LCR
Alumni
• Ongoing instructional refinement Network
• Collegial study & dialogue
• Connects theory to practice
LCR
• Online professional network
component
• Credit opportunity
• District Literacy Coach instructor

13. Inside the LCR Alumni Network

14. ONE-WEEK RESIDENCIES
Support for entry-level
professional learning
LCR
Alumni
• Entry-level professional learning Network
• Focused study of
Readers/Writers Workshop
implementation
LCR
• Includes pedagogical study of
related focus question
• Literacy Teacher Leader
instructors
One-
• District Literacy Coach support week
LCRs
for planning

15. 5TH BLOCK LCR
Making the most of summer
learning opportunities
LCR
Alumni
• 5-week summer study program
Network
• Focused on accelerating
learning for identified students
• Includes refinement of district
LCR
initiatives, including standards-
based grading, Response to
Intervention & English Language
5th One-
Development block
Block week
LCR LCRs
• Credit opportunity
• District Literacy Coach
instructor

16. Making the most of summer learning
opportunities – Biaze
Inside the 5th block LCR

17. Support for professional learning
SECONDARY LITERACY
LCR NETWORK

18. Professional Learning Laboratory
Classroom Residency Network
• Collegial study & dialogue
• Ongoing instructional refinement
LCR
• Online professional network
Alumni
• Theory into practice
• Credit opportunity
Network
• District Literacy Coach instructor
• District Literacy Coach instructor
• Capacity-building model
• Readers/Writers Workshop immersion
• Integrated technology support
• Reflective cycle study of own practice
• Transition to independent practice
• Ongoing literacy coaching support
LCR
One-
5th Block
week
LCR
LCRs
• 5-week summer study
• •
Accelerating student learning Entry level PD
• •
Refinement of district initiatives Focused study
• •
Credit opportunity RWW implementation
• •
District Literacy Coach instructor Teacher Leader instructors
PACESetters

19. Teacher Development: A Principal’s
Perspective – Linda
How is this working to build
capacity?

20. BUILDING CAPACITY IN
SCHOOLS
Investing in the knowledge and
skills of teachers through LCR
residencies
LCR Residencies completed
• High School teachers – 5
• Middle School / K-8 teachers – 31
One-week Residencies completed
• High School teachers – 3
• Middle School / K-8 teachers – 14
5th Block Residencies completed
• High School teachers – 3
• Middle School / K-8 teachers – 5

21. MOVING UP THE LEADERSHIP
CONTINUUM
“Where are they now?”
Demonstration
• 23
Classrooms in
development
• 11
Teacher Leaders
•
Other (ELA, SPED, etc.) 5
• 17
One-week Residencies
•
5th Block Residencies 9

22. IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Depth of Reflective Practice:
Evidence of developing leadership
capacity
Sean – I have learned about myself that underneath a set of challenges and insecurities

is a good teacher, ready and willing to maximize student learning.
Jessica - This was maybe the best part of the LCR experience…we

didn’t just observe a master teacher at work; we learned how to
effectively lead workshop instruction ourselves.
Kari - The authentic experience of the LCR is something I will

learn from for months to come.
Amanda - I am listening to conversations that I have with others

around instruction, and I hear a different person. I hear someone who is confident about
her understandings, someone who asks questions to get to the answer, someone who
has kids at the center of her conversation more often, and someone who is patient and
intentional. I love this new person that I hear.

23. For information or to arrange a visit:
Charlotte A. Butler
Instructional
Coordinator, Secondary
Literacy
Aurora Public Schools
15751 E. 1st Avenue
Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 340-0859 ext.
28346
cabutler@aps.k12.co.us