Kathryn Winn Primary has achieved a milestone that places it among an elite group of only eight schools in Kentucky. After three years of relentless commitment, transformative changes, and unwavering dedication to student success, the school has been named a Model PLC At Work school—a recognition that celebrates the power of collaboration in education..
At the heart of this achievement lies the school’s embrace of Professional Learning Communities (PLC), a framework designed to elevate teaching practices and student outcomes through teamwork. Guided by Lorrie Hulbert of Solution Tree, the Kathryn Winn staff transformed their approach to teaching. Hulbert’s deep involvement in the school’s journey made her feel less like an advisor and more like family.
“To say we are proud of how much each of our schools has grown in implementing effective Professional Learning Communities is an understatement. The teachers and building leaders embraced the partnership we developed with Solution Tree and they have worked very hard to earn these elite recognitions,” said Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Jonica Ray.
The essence of the PLC model lies in working together.
“The whole focus of a PLC is that we work together,” Hulbert explained. To earn the Model PLC At Work distinction, Kathryn Winn had to demonstrate a remarkable shift in its collaborative practices, involving teacher teams and building leadership. The school also had to prove, through three years of data, that these changes translated into significant student growth.
Central to the PLC process are four guiding questions:
What do we want students to learn?
How do we know they’ve learned it?
What do we do for those who haven’t learned it?
What do we do for those who already have?
These questions and their answers have become ingrained in Kathryn Winn’s culture. Every teacher can walk into a PLC meeting knowing exactly what their colleagues are doing and how they can contribute.
“It’s a system that is very well laid out,” Kathryn Winn Principal Donna Monroe said. “It doesn’t matter who flows in or out of these collaborative team meetings, they know the process.”
The transformation has brought consistency and excellence to every classroom. Hulbert noted a shift in how parents view their children’s education: “In the past, parents wanted their child to have a specific teacher because of positive feedback about that teacher. Donna can very safely tell a parent, ‘It doesn’t matter who your child has in first grade. They are going to get the same high levels of learning.’”
Achieving this distinction required difficult decisions and stepping outside comfort zones. Principal Monroe praised her teaching staff’s commitment to the PLC process and their willingness to embrace change for the betterment of their students.
While much of this transformation happens behind the scenes, the Model PLC At Work recognition shines a spotlight on the school’s efforts and success. Kathryn Winn now stands as a beacon of excellence and collaboration, demonstrating what’s possible when educators unite to put students first.
“This is a huge accomplishment for Carroll County Schools,” said Ray. “It has been a great learning experience for me to work alongside them through this process, and I couldn’t be more proud of each of our schools.”