Plainfield Elementary School Earns Nationwide Recognition For Collaboration, Student Growth

PLAINFIELD, IL — Central Elementary School in Plainfield was recently named a Model Professional Community at Work, the sixth school in the state to earn the distinction.

As 925 schools and districts nationwide with the title, Central Elementary was recognized for its teamwork, student learning, and emphasis on growth for every student.

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Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is ongoing, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 said in a news release. The designation calls on educators to focus on learning, build a collaborative culture and be results-oriented.

"This recognition reflects the collective efforts of educators who continually learn from one another, reflect on their practice, and remain focused on what matters most: student learning," Principal Jennifer Hennegan said in a statement. "Our students have also embraced this work by setting goals, monitoring their progress, and taking ownership of their learning."

Central Elementary staff have been working on the designation since 2020. To be considered, a team of Central teachers, staff and administrators submitted three years of school data, school report cards, the 5 Essentials survey data, and narratives about curriculum, student support and learning goals.

In the 2023-2024 school year, Central added 30 minutes of math intervention to its master schedule and created targeted goals in math. The mid-year I-Ready test data showed the largest test score growth in math among all 18 elementary schools from 2022 to the 2023-2024 school year, according to the news release.

"Continuous improvement remains at the heart of our work, and we will keep striving to strengthen teaching and learning in every classroom," Hennegan said, per the release.