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District leaders say summer conferences, PLC and Solution Tree work driving classroom changes
Summary
Administrators and instructional leaders reported on the district’s summer professional learning activities — School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), Solution Tree/PLC, Behavior Solutions and High-Impact Teams — and described local follow-up including book studies, team time and district road maps for collaborative work.
Administrators and instructional coaches told the Burlington Community School District board on Oct. 6 that summer professional learning and collaborative conferences were providing practical strategies that district staff are using this school year.
The presenters described two main kinds of summer learning: the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) conference and a set of Solution Tree conferences (PLC at Work, High-Impact Teams, Behavior Solutions and All Means All). Staff said district teams used course takeaways to create shared tools, book studies and building-level road maps.
Why it matters
Administrators said attending conferences together allowed teams to return with shared language, practical classroom tools and coordinated plans for implementation across grade levels. Staff said this common language and cross-building collaboration support instructional continuity from preschool through grade 12.
What administrators reported
- SAI attendance: About 16 district administrators attended SAI in August. Presenters said sessions included legal updates, Iowa Department of Education guidance and best practices for supporting students and staff. - Solution Tree and PLC work: District teams attended four Solution Tree tracks: Behavior Solutions, All Means All (special education collaboration), PLC at Work and High-Impact Teams. The district purchased multiple copies of Dr. Minahan’s The Behavior Code and the companion book for planned book studies. - Practical follow-up: Presenters described concrete follow-ups such as student reflection sheets used for office discipline referrals, building “road maps” for PLC implementation (Aldo’s “rep roadmap”), team norms and a focus on tiered behavior supports (tiers 1–3). - Team time and network effects: Administrators said bringing a team to conferences and doing guided team time allowed high-impact planning (for example, penciling out beginning-of-year plans during the conference). Staff noted stronger cross-building collaboration and a willingness to repeat conference attendance in future years. - Upcoming events: The district will host Dr. Anthony Muhammad for a countywide Des Moines County Summit Day on Oct. 31; district leaders described that event as an extension of their PLC/solution-tree work.
Attribution and speakers
Corey Johnson led the summary and was joined by building principals and instructional coaches who described how they used conference strategies to develop building habits and PLC practices. Principals who spoke included Monica, Nathan and others who described building-level adoption and next steps.
The board thanked staff for the work and for using staff time to participate in conferences, noting administrators and teachers attended outside their paid time.
What comes next
Staff said they will continue book studies, team follow-ups, and targeted professional learning days tied to PLC work. The district also plans to keep offering spots for staff who request conference attendance and to host the countywide summit on Oct. 31.
