SHRINKING THE COUNTRY MILE: IMPLEMENTATION OF VIRTUAL PLCS IN RURAL SCHOOLS

Abstract The challenges and obstacles that a small rural school district in west Texas experiences in the planning and implementing a professional learning communities (PLC) appear overwhelming due to the lack of resources. Realizing that other area rural school districts were experiencing the same challenges, the creation of a virtual inter-district PLC was developed to help alleviate the challenges and overcome the obstacles. This PLC included five rural school districts and a partnership with the local university. The initiation of the virtual inter-district PLC was feasible through virtual collaboration efforts between the school districts and all stakeholders involved.