Tom Hierck

Starting a Movement: Building Culture from the Inside out in Professional Learning Communities Tom Hierck

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Contributor Bio:  Hierck, Tom Tom Hierck has been an educator since 1983 in a career that has spanned all grade levels and many roles in public education. His experiences as a teacher, an administrator, a district leader, a department of education project leader, and an executive director have provided a unique context for his education philosophy. Tom is a compelling presenter, infusing his message of hope with strategies culled from the real world. He understands that educators face unprecedented challenges and knows which strategies will best serve learning communities. Tom has presented to schools and districts across North America with a message of celebration for educators seeking to make a difference in the lives of students. His dynamic presentations explore the importance of positive learning environments and the role of assessment to improve student learning. His belief that every student is a success story waiting to be told has led him to work with teachers and administrators to create positive school cultures and build effective relationships that facilitate learning for all students. Tom Hierck s blog can be found at tomhierck.com/blog/. Contributor Bio:  Williams, Kenneth Kenneth T. Williams is a Cree playwright, filmmaker and journalist from the George Gordon First Nation. His plays CafZ Daughter, Thunderstick (Scirocco 2010), Bannock Republic (Scirocco 2011), Suicide Notes and Three Little Birds have been professionally produced across Canada. Gordon Winter had its world premiere in Saskatoon in 2010 as the opening play for Persephone Theatre's Deep End series. It then went on to further acclaim in May, 2012 when it was presented again at Ottawa's Arts Court Theatre as part of the National Arts Centre's Prairie Scene festival. Thunderstick has recently been optioned as feature film project. In 2011, Gordon Winter was nominated for a Saskatoon and Area Theatre Award for outstanding playwriting and CafZ Daughter won Bob Couchman Theatre Awards for outstanding production, direction and female performance in Whitehorse. He's working on a new play, Deserters, which was presented at the 2011 Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival. He blogs about his playwrit