Inquiry: A Districtwide Approach to Staff and Student Learning

About Carol M. ThomasNancy Fichtman DanaSylvia S. Boynton

Nancy Fichtman Dana is currently professor of education in the School of Teaching and Learning at the University of Florida Gainesville. She began her career in education as an elementary school teacher in Hannibal Central Schools New York. Since earning her PhD from Florida State University in 1991 she has been a passionate advocate for teacher inquiry and has worked >extensively in supporting schools districts and universities in implementing powerful programs of job-embedded professional development through inquiry across the United States and in several countries including China South Korea Belgium Portugal The Netherlands Slovenia and Estonia. She has published ten books and over 100 articles in professional journals and edited books focused on her research exploring teacher and principal professional development and practitioner inquiry. Dana has received many honors including the Association of Teacher Educators Distinguished Research in Teacher Education Award and the National Staff Development Council (now Learning Forward) Book of the Year Award both honoring Dana and Yendol-Hoppeys work related to practitioner inquiry. Carol Thomas is currently an Area Superintendent for Pinellas County Schools. To address the needs of the nations 22nd largest school the district utilizes area superintendents to lead support and develop the work of schools. Of the 37 diverse elementary schools that Thomas oversees 27 made the NCLBs adequate yearly progress standard in 2009. For the past three years the work of her region has been focused on a systematic approach to developing powerful instructional leaders. Using professional learning communities principals and assistant principals studied and practiced the art of practitioner inquiry. As a result school leaders have a clear understanding of the elements and power of an inquiry rich environment. Her vision and leadership supports an unwavering commitment to the practice of inquiry as the cornerstone for authentic passionate teacher/educator professional development. Thomas began her career in education as a special education teacher in the Arlington Virginia. Dr. Thomas has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. Since that time she has dedicated 29 years to the Pinellas school community as teacher Principal Director of Professional Development and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. Sylvia Boynton is a professor in residence in the University of Floridas College of Education. In this role through the UF Lastinger Center for Learning she works with teachers and administrators in a district-based school improvement initiative in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg and Clearwater) Florida. She works intensively in 19 Title 1 elementary schools with a total of 75 educators who are earning graduate degrees in the Teacher Leadership for School Improvement (TLSI) program at UF. In addition she collaborates with two associate superintendents to provide inquiry-focused professional development to elementary principals. Most recently she has begun working with a district/university team in an effort to infuse educator inquiry throughout all professional development. Dr. Boynton has a Ph.D. in anthropological linguistics and an M.A. in Latin American Studies. She has worked in Texas and Florida as an ESL teacher.