Literacy in PLCs and K-12 Education, with Paula Maeker

In this episode of Unpacking Education, our hosts explore literacy, professional learning communities (PLCs), and school improvement with Paula Maeker, an educator and coauthor of Literacy in a PLC at Work®. Drawing from her experience teaching in under-resourced communities and collaborating with highly effective teams, Paula shares how educators can work collectively to ensure that every student reaches grade-level literacy expectations.Our conversation highlights the current state of literacy in the United States, the power of PLC collaboration, and the practical TEAMS framework for building strong instructional systems. Paula also challenges educators to embrace essentialism—doing less exceptionally well—by focusing on the most critical literacy skills in which students must gain proficiency. This episode with Paula offers actionable insights for educators committed to improving literacy outcomes for all students. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.