In a recent article the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) compiled the top 4 benefits for teachers participating in Professional Learning Communities. 

They include: 

1. PLCs allow educators opportunities to directly improve teaching and learning.

2. PLCs build stronger relationships between team members.

3. PLCs help teachers stay on top of new research and emerging technology tools for the classroom. 

4. PLCs help teachers reflect on ideas. 

One study also showed that schools and teachers who participate in Professional Learning Communities “engaged students in high intellectual learning tasks, and students achieved greater academic gains in math, science, history and reading than students in traditionally organized schools.” (Lee, Smith, and Croninger, 1995)

Knowing that community support and collaboration has been important for successful implementation for our signature programs (We the People, History Day, and Project Citizen), the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement is thrilled to be hosting our first year long professional learning community for Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers looking to explore student engagement through skill building lessons and projects along. 

Thanks to grants from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Regional Program and the National Endowment for the Humanities with Nevada Humanities, we have this wonderful opportunity for up to 30 teachers this school year. 

High School teachers looking to implement the We the People Program can register on this page.

Elementary and Middle School teachers looking to implement We the People, Project Citizen, and/or National History Day can register on this page: https://nvcce.org/teacherplc  

Completing the PLC requirements will provide you with 30 credit hours from the Nevada Department of Education and a stipend as well as a large amount of content and pedagogical knowledge.  It is scheduled for the third weekend of every month and you will have great mentors. We are truly looking forward to this exciting opportunity to work closely with teachers this year.