Professional Learning Community and Collaborative Practices in Utah schools

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my lecturer who has always shown confidence in me. He has offered his patience, remarks, propositions and understanding. Here I would also like to mention my parents who have always believed in me for all my hard work. My family, including my parents, brother and sister has endlessly supported me during my life and academics. This has helped me in making positive decisions for my life. I would also mention my peers and co-workers and appreciate their collaboration and expert advice on every circumstance. I am also grateful towards my University and my Department, the administrators, faculty members and fellow students for their support throughout this study. I would like to thank my Mentor, Dr. Barry Persky, who dedicated countless hours in helping me to achieve this goal; my committee members, Dr. David Balch and Dr. Stephen Levy, who surrendered their time to help me with valuable feedback based on their expertise.

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to my husband and best friend Maloni, who has been by my side through it all, and to our children Brandon, Kingston, and Lavakamofotofili. Thank you for supporting mom throughout this journey, I look forward to making up for lost time, and spending more quality time with you. I also dedicate this to my parents, Vilisoni and Siulolovao Angilau who surrounded my life with much peace and love, and instilled in me faith in God, and faith in myself. Lastly, I dedicate this to all my students throughout the years, you have all been my inspiration.

DECLARATION

I declare that the material stated in this dissertation/thesis is original and does not present work of any other scholar or research study conducted in the past. Material in this study is not partially or completely published elsewhere and collected only for the purpose of this study. I also acknowledge that I have complete understanding of the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University with respect to the endowment of higher education degree and my research work. Here, I would also like to take the opportunity to declare that I have almost exclusively followed the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University regarding this research study.

I certify that the work presented in the dissertation is my own unless referenced

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ABSTRACT

The primary aim of this study is to see the impact of collaboration within PLCs. Improving instructional strategies through collaborative leadership, as practiced in PLC, is a key component of student success. Improving instruction requires teachers and staff to shift from being negative and punitive figures of authority to building relationships and facilitating in a trusting learning atmosphere. The six characteristics of PLC collaboration involve shared and supportive leadership, shared personal practice, supportive conditions in relationship building, supportive conditions in building structure, shared values and vision, and collective learning and application are all cooperative in nature. Moreover, these factors support concepts of working together to prevent isolation, or teaching alone with little ...