This is a demo store. No orders will be fulfilled.

Building Strong Readers Through Research-Informed Practice — Learn more

Build school culture where learning thrives

“After several months of research and dialogue with practitioners throughout the nation, it became apparent that the hype was real. PLCs . . . are being used by schools and districts of all sizes and demographics to make significant impacts on student achievement.”

Evaluating Professional Learning Communities: Final Report
An APQC® Education Benchmarking Project

The Professional Learning Communities at Work® process is increasingly recognized as the most powerful strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement. This institute gives you and your team the knowledge and tools to implement this powerful process in your school or district.

For three days, you will have the opportunity to network with some of the most insightful minds in education. Presenters are accessible to you throughout the event.

The program includes time for questions during the breakout sessions, a panel of experts to address questions from the audience, and time for teams to reflect and seek the advice of the presenters. During team time, you will focus on next action steps, with presenters on hand to guide you.

For those just beginning to explore PLCs, this is an excellent way to build your knowledge base. For those who are already involved in deep implementation, this institute is the perfect opportunity to assess your progress and identify high-leverage next steps for implementation, introduce new team members to the process, and get answers to new questions.

As you delve deep into the three big ideas of a PLC—focus on learning, build a collaborative culture, and results orientation—you will gain specific, practical, and inspiring strategies for transforming your school or district into a place where all students learn at high levels.

Venue

Adlai Stevenson High School

1 Stevenson Dr

Lincolnshire, Illinois

Learn from leading experts

Keynote speakers

Jack Baldermann

Jack Baldermann

Jack Baldermann

Jack Baldermann has been a passionate educational leader for over 30 years. His experience includes leading several high-poverty urban schools to significant success and supporting eight different priority or high-poverty schools to become Model PLC at Work® schools.

Tim Brown

Tim Brown

Tim Brown

Tim Brown, a consultant, has 30 years of experience in education. As principal of elementary, middle, and high schools in Missouri, he led each to become a successful professional learning community.

Daniel Cohan

Daniel Cohan

Daniel Cohan

Daniel Cohan is chief of schools for the Jefferson County Public School District in Colorado, where he supervises elementary, middle, and high schools, K–12.

Luis F. Cruz

Luis F. Cruz

Luis F. Cruz

Luis F. Cruz, PhD, is a sought-after presenter, coach, thought leader, and accomplished author with over 30 years of experience in education.

Heather Friziellie

Heather Friziellie

Heather Friziellie

Heather Friziellie is currently superintendent of schools for Fox Lake Grade School District 114, located in the suburbs northwest of Chicago. She previously served as both an elementary principal and a middle school principal.

Timothy D. Kanold

Timothy D. Kanold

Timothy D. Kanold

Timothy D. Kanold, PhD, an award-winning educator and author, is former superintendent of Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125, a Model PLC at Work® district in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Cheyana Leiva

Cheyana Leiva

Cheyana Leiva

Cheyana Leiva is a transformational leader who understands the challenges schools are facing and the strategies necessary to improve. As a principal, she led her high-poverty school to an A rating in three years.

Michelle Marrillia

Michelle Marrillia

Michelle Marrillia

Michelle Marrillia has 17 years of experience as an educator and is currently an assistant principal of Fern Creek High School in Louisville, Kentucky. As an instructional coach, staff developer, and PLC coordinator at Fern Creek, Michelle helped move the school from a persistently low-achieving school in 2010 to a proficient school in 2015.

Mike Mattos

Mike Mattos

Mike Mattos

Mike Mattos is an internationally recognized author, presenter, and practitioner who specializes in uniting teachers, administrators, and support staff to transform schools by implementing response to intervention and professional learning communities.

Anthony Muhammad

Anthony Muhammad

Anthony Muhammad

Anthony Muhammad, PhD, is an author and international thought leader. He worked as a practitioner for nearly 20 years, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He is recognized as one of the fields leading experts in the areas of school culture and Professional Learning Communities at Work®.

Maria Nielsen

Maria Nielsen

Maria Nielsen

Maria Nielsen, educational speaker and author, specializes in supporting teachers and administrators in the areas of PLCs, RTI, school culture, curriculum design, the highly engaged classroom, and assessment systems. Her life’s work is to help schools build successful systems to ensure high levels of student learning.

Regina Stephens Owens

Regina Stephens Owens

Regina Stephens Owens

Regina Stephens Owens, EdD is an internationally recognized presenter and practitioner who specializes in creating a culture of connectivity and collaboration while utilizing systems thinking.

Will Remmert

Will Remmert

Will Remmert

Dr. Will Remmert is an author and educational presenter with over 25 years of experience as a principal, teacher, coach, and Solution Tree associate working with preK–12 and district-level educators across the country.

Eric Twadell

Eric Twadell

Eric Twadell

Eric Twadell, PhD, is superintendent of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He has been a social studies teacher, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent for leadership and organizational development.

Schedule

On-Site Solution Tree Book Co-Op Open Throughout Event

Agenda and speakers are subject to change.

Detailed agenda and summaries

Monday, July 31st

6:30–7:50 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

7:50–9:45 a.m. Keynote
9:45–10:00 a.m.

Break

10:00–11:30 a.m. Breakouts
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Lunch (provided)

12:30–2:00 p.m.

Breakouts

2:00–2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15–3:15 p.m. Panel Discussion
4:00–5:30 p.m. Reception

Tuesday, August 1st

7:00–8:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00–9:45 a.m. Keynote
9:45–10:00 a.m.

Break

10:00–11:30 a.m. Breakouts
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Lunch (provided)

12:30–2:00 p.m.

Breakouts

2:00–2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15–3:15 p.m. Team Time
7:30–11:30 p.m. Karaoke Night

Wednesday, August 2nd

7:00–8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:00–9:30 a.m.

Breakouts

9:30–9:45 a.m. Break
9:45–11:45 a.m.

Keynote

Accommodations

Events reach capacity quickly. Please confirm your registration before making travel plans.

In order to receive the discounted hotel room rate, please mention Solution Tree. After the deadline listed below, rates will be determined by the hotel. While discounted rooms in our hotel room block may be sold out, the primary hotel may still have rooms available at their standard rates. Please inquire directly with the hotel.

Parking information:
Stevenson High School: Complimentary
Marriott Lincolnshire Resort: Complimentary

All rates are per day and subject to change.

Hotels

Primary Hotel

Marriott Lincolnshire Resort

10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
800.228.9290
847.634.0100

Discounted Rate: (single or double) $189 per night
Deadline: 7/10/23

Online Reservations

Venue

Adlai Stevenson High School

1 Stevenson Dr

Lincolnshire, Illinois

Hear from our attendees

Event Reviews

“I have so many things to take back to my team! The sessions were really excellent and worth the trip! I have lots of new ideas that I have presented to my principal already.”

Erin McClellan, teacher, Peralta Elementary School, Arizona

“Very informative conference! My school team was energized and walked away with concrete examples of how to expand our PLC process.”

Pat Kurtz, principal, Santa Margarita Elementary School, California

“I learned so much about implementing PLCs in my district. This conference gave me all of the research and evidence to show how PLCs impact learning, not only for the students but for the staff as well.”

Stefanie Hill, curriculum director, Genoa Kingston CUSD #424, Illinois

“The keynote speakers were wonderful, entertaining, inspiring, and informative. The audiovisuals were great, location spectacular, and the accommodations were superb.”

Sue Larkins-Hall, teacher, Anne Wien Elementary School, Alaska

More details

Additional Information

Product code: CFF731


Five Reasons to Attend a Solution Tree Event (PDF)
A Letter to Your Boss (DOC)

You will receive a certificate of participation 6 weeks after the event concludes. Please check with your department of education for CEU availability.


On-Site Solution Tree Book Co-op Discounts

  • 30% off 5 or more Solution Tree titles or resources
  • On-site book co-op open daily throughout the event

Discounts above are for on-site purchases only. Does not include any non-Marzano Resources product, toolkit, or sale table items. Purchase orders and credit cards accepted. We now accept Apple, Google and Samsung Pay onsite. Continental US only.


Included with your registration

Learning by Doing

Learning by Doing

The third edition of this comprehensive action guide includes new strategies, tools, and tips for building high-performing professional learning communities. Use the PLC process to establish effective teaching methods, curriculum development, and assessment strategies specific to your school or district.

AllThingsPLC Magazine Single Event Issue

AllThingsPLC Magazine Single Event Issue

AllThingsPLC Magazine is a must-have for emerging and veteran professional learning communities (PLCs). Each issue includes PLC research, inspiration, fixes, how-tos, and more.

Event Notebook

Event Notebook

We’re enhancing your event experience. In addition to providing presentations in digital format, Solution Tree is publishing retail-quality, perfect-bound notebooks expertly designed to support your learning. Any printed handouts or worksheets integrated into your sessions will continue to be provided.