With K–12 schools heading back into session for the fall, leaders face a difficult decision—planning for a post-stimulus environment and making the investments that have the biggest impact on student learning.
An August 2023 EdWeek Market Brief survey of 429 K–12 staff reported that in-person professional learning experiences deliver a higher return on investment, meaning educators are more likely to leave with actionable takeaways to put into practice right away. Further, Education Week reported that more educators are seeking conferences that are in person, engaging, intimate, and personalized.
Solution Tree, a premier provider of K–12 professional development services and resources for educators, recognizes that each school has unique needs and school-improvement goals. Investing in a Solution Tree event allows educators to receive a full professional development experience with actionable strategies to implement immediately. More than 60,000 educators attend Solution Tree’s professional learning events annually across a variety of topic areas.
Solution Tree’s Professional Learning Communities (PLC) at Work® events deliver a wealth of ideas, strategies, and practices proven to work in real classroom, school, and district settings—all tied to the most powerful, research-affirmed strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement: the PLC at Work process. The PLC at Work process is an ongoing cycle of collective inquiry and action research where teachers work in collaborative teams to achieve high levels of learning for all students. Educators committed to the PLC at Work process focus on three big ideas:
The PLC at Work process operates under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous job-embedded learning for educators.
Through PLC at Work events, schools can personalize their professional development experience by gaining the knowledge and forward momentum in a large-group setting or through hands-on training in a small-group setting. By learning from leading experts at a PLC at Work workshop, institute, or summit, educators have the opportunity to build their professional capacity, find new solutions, and connect with a network of peers who will support them in their classroom- or school-improvement journey.
With over 30 years in education, author, presenter, coach, and thought leader Luis F. Cruz shared, “PLC at Work conferences embody a preponderance of research focused on practical ways educators who work in schools can continuously enhance learning for the diverse student populations they serve.”
No matter what PLC events they choose to attend, educators walk away empowered with new strategies, new ideas, and a new energetic network of colleagues. As one educator from Solution Tree’s Los Angeles PLC at Work Institute in June said: “I did not know what to expect from this conference. I walked away completely impressed and have been raving about how thoughtful and well-organized the conference was. The registration was seamless, the breakfast each day was delicious and filling, and the support staff were super helpful—from collecting feedback forms to helping repair my name tag on the second day! I loved the T-shirt—another unexpected surprise—and the overall energy that was palpable throughout the three days of the conference. I would (and have) recommended this to colleagues and educator friends.”
Upcoming PLC at Work® Events
The Summit on PLC at Work®
Learn from true champions of the PLC at Work process. Through keynotes and breakout sessions, educators will spend three days with professionals who share their mission of transforming education to ensure every student succeeds. Network with experts who have achieved success in classrooms, schools, and districts and supported teachers and leaders to get sustainable results. Summits are ideal for district leaders, building administrators, teacher leaders, and teachers.
Register today: SolutionTree.com/PLCSummit2025
PLC at Work® Institutes
For schools just beginning to explore PLCs, institutes are an excellent way to build their knowledge base. For those already involved in deep implementation, institutes provide the perfect opportunity to revisit their mission, introduce new team members to the process, and get answers to new questions. Keynotes and breakout sessions offer meaningful content and practical solutions. Panel discussions and role-alike networking groups offer unique opportunities to connect with expert practitioners.
Register today: SolutionTree.com/2024PLCInstitutes
PLC at Work® Workshops
Catered to specific topic areas to fit each school’s unique needs, PLC at Work workshops offer hands-on training in small-group settings. Participants receive two days of solutions-focused learning. The intimate size of workshops ensures personalized support from experts who have achieved success specific to the strategies they present. They are ideal for teams ready to work collaboratively.
Register today: SolutionTree.com/2024Workshops[1] [2] [3]
Learn more about Solution Tree’s on-site, virtual, and on-demand events. Or, access the Spring/Summer 2024 Professional Learning Events catalog.
About Solution Tree
For over 25 years, Solution Tree has worked to transform education worldwide, empowering educators to raise student achievement. With more than 60,000 educators attending professional development events and more than 12,000 professional development days in schools each year, Solution Tree helps teachers and administrators confront essential challenges. Solution Tree has a catalog of more than 600 titles, along with hundreds of videos and online courses, and is the creator of Global PD Teams and Avanti, online learning platforms that facilitate the work of teachers and educators. Follow @SolutionTree on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. Learn more about Solution Tree.