Schools from across the state of Missouri will be honored during the 2018 Powerful Learning Conference for their commitment to professional learning. Nearly 1,700 Missouri educators are expected to attend the conference Jan. 29-30 in Osage Beach.

Twenty-one schools have been named Exemplary Professional Learning Communities Schools for promoting cultures focused on collaborative learning while effectively using data to increase student achievement. Interim Commissioner of Education Roger Dorson will present school leaders with their awards.

“These teachers and leaders have accepted the challenge of ensuring high levels of learning for all students,” Dr. Dorson said. “We appreciate their commitment to helping students succeed and congratulate them on this recognition.”

These are the 2017-18 Exemplary Schools:

• Kelly A. Burlison Middle School – Fredericktown R-I School District
• Jana Elementary School– Hazelwood School District
• Viburnum High School – Iron Co. C-4 School District
• Viburnum Elementary School – Iron Co. C-4 School District
• Cedar Hill Elementary School – Jefferson City School District
• Dogwood Elementary School – Kearney R-I School District
• Neelyville High School – Neelyville R-IV School District
• Parkside Elementary School – North St. Francois Co. R-I School District
• Stonegate Elementary School – Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District
• Peculiar Elementary School – Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District
• Kratz Elementary School – Ritenour School District
• Marion Elementary School – Ritenour School District
• Seneca Intermediate School – Seneca R-VII School District
• Seneca Elementary School – Seneca R-VII School District
• Southern Boone Primary School – Southern Boone Co. R-I School District
• Daniel Boone Elementary School – Warren Co. R-III School District
• Rebecca Boone Elementary School – Warren Co. R-III School District
• Ridge View Elementary School – Warrensburg R-VI School District
• Nellie Hart Sterling Elementary School – Warrensburg R-VI School District
• Williams Early Childhood Center – Waynesville R-VI School District
• Piney Ridge Learning Center – Waynesville R-VI School District
   

In addition, 12 schools that continue to maintain implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) standards are being honored as Sustaining Exemplary Professional Learning Communities Schools. Leaders in each of the schools collaboratively prepared a narrative describing how they have sustained practices since their original Exemplary designation and shared specific data to show that student achievement has either been maintained at a high level or grown as a result of their focus on PLC practices.

Rob Gordon, Missouri PLC field coordinator, and Cathi Rust, a supervisor in the Office of Quality Schools at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will present the awards to the following schools:

Cameron Veterans Middle School – Cameron R-I School District
Carrollton Elementary/Adams Primary School – Carrollton R-VII School District
Carrollton Middle School – Carrollton R-VII School District
Festus Elementary School – Festus R-VI School District
Festus Intermediate School – Festus R-VI School District
Festus Middle School – Festus R-VI School District
Bartley Elementary School – Fulton 58 School District
Bush Elementary School – Fulton 58 School District
Potosi Elementary School – Potosi R-III School District
Trojan Intermediate School – Potosi R-III School District
St. James Middle School – St. James R-I School District
Union Star K-12 Schools – Union Star R-II School District

The Missouri Professional Learning Communities Project began during the 2003-04 school year. Supporting, preparing and developing effective educators is one of the priorities of Show-Me Success, Missouri’s strategic plan for education.