Making PLCs Work: Moving Beyond Sit-and-Get

Many schools say they do PLCs, but few make them effective. As a teacher, coach, and administrator, I’ve experienced PLCs from every angle — walking in tired at the end of the day, leading as a coach, and evaluating as an administrator. Too often, they turn into long lists of announcements or district directives rather than spaces where teachers feel their time and expertise are valued.

But PLCs can and should be more than that. When done well, they become spaces where teachers collaborate, share best practices, and leave with strategies they can actually use. Here are three shifts I’ve seen make the biggest difference:

1. Start with a Clear Objective

Just like we don’t want students sitting through lessons without clear goals, teachers shouldn’t leave a PLC wondering what it was all for. A strong PLC has an objective that can realistically be accomplished in the time given. Keep it manageable and relevant — something teachers can walk away with and apply right away.

2. Make Collaboration the Heart

Announcements and updates can go in an email or video. The value of a PLC is in teachers talking to one another — sharing strategies, building lessons, solving challenges together. Every educator brings unique strengths, and when those are shared, everyone leaves with new tools in their toolbox.

3. Value Teacher Voice

Some of the best ideas I’ve ever learned came from colleagues in the room. When teachers lead or share in PLCs, it shifts the tone from “do this” to “here’s what’s working for me.” That peer-to-peer exchange builds trust, highlights the expertise already in the building, and helps create a culture where teachers feel heard and respected.

These aren’t laws — just lessons from someone who’s been in the PLC as a teacher, coach, and administrator. At the end of the day, teachers want the same thing for their professional learning that we want for our students: meaningful, collaborative time that leads to growth.

💡 Your turn: What’s one thing that makes a PLC meaningful for you? Share your thoughts in the comments — let’s keep building better collaboration together.