Strong teams are intentionally built through trust, connection, and a shared vision. Authors Shawn Creswell and Katy Sue Traicoff use the Team Trail Map to move educators from compliance to true investment. Through reflection and proven strategies, build collaborative teams and strengthen relationships, fostering collective commitments. Use this step-by-step guide to create cohesive, effective teams in which every member feels valued.
K–12 teachers and administrators can use this book to: - Build strong working relationships that embrace unique values, experiences, and skills
- Engage in authentic, productive conversations that promote trust and collaboration
- Create a team vision based on all members’ input and shared interests
- Develop action plans and establish expected team practices, norms, roles, and contributions
- Monitor and reflect on ongoing progress to attain goals and sustain team growth
Contents: Introduction
Chapter 1: Finding the Trailhead by Exploring Team Experiences and Values
Chapter 2: Mapping the Trail for a Shared Team Vision
Chapter 3: Following the Trail Together as One Team
Chapter 4: Strengthening Your Journey Through Productive Conversations
Chapter 5: Reaching the Summit Together
Epilogue
References and Resources
Index
Shawn Creswell is a highly experienced educational leader, author, presenter, and coach who collaborates with educators across the United States to implement the Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work® process, the RTI at Work™ process, and Beyond Labels. With over twenty-eight years of experience in both private and public education, she has served in diverse roles, including classroom teacher across multiple grade levels, assistant principal of a middle school, principal of a K–6 school, and founding principal of a new preK–6 school. She also held the position of district director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for grades preK–12 in a large Texas school district.
In addition to working with districts and schools throughout the United States, Shawn serves as a school board member in her community, championing continuous improvement efforts for students, educators, and their families. As a seasoned building- and district-level administrator, she is passionate about fostering exceptional learning and growth for every student. Committed to ensuring that every child thrives, Shawn brings proven expertise and a wealth of knowledge to transforming schools in both urban and suburban settings.
Under Shawn’s leadership as principal, Coulson Tough K–6 School in Texas received certification as a High Reliability School at level 1 in 2019 and at level 2 in 2020. Through the implementation of the PLC at Work process, the school had dramatic and sustained student growth during the six years Shawn was principal. In the spring of 2020, Coulson Tough K–6 School was recognized as a Model PLC at Work school by Solution Tree. In addition, it was the second school in the United States to receive distinctions as both a High Reliability School and a Model PLC at Work school. Shawn is coauthor of Anchor Your Vision: Navigational Tools and Strategies for Every Stage in a PLC at Work and Celebrate to Motivate: The Art of Inspiring Students, Staff, and the School Community.
Shawn earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University.
To learn more about Shawn’s work, follow her @creswell_shawn on X and Shawn Creswell on LinkedIn, and join the Celebrate to Motivate group on Facebook.
Katy Sue Traicoff is an experienced educational leader with a passion for fostering collaborative learning environments and supporting the professional development of educators. She has more than eighteen years of experience in education, in roles ranging from classroom teacher to district instructional coach, school administration team member, and professional learning community (PLC) presenter, coach, and author. Katy Sue has proven successful in leading school-improvement initiatives. Her experience with both high-performing and Title I schools has given her a perspective of how the PLC process benefits both student and educator learning and growth and, more importantly, how collaboration can help educators manage the intense pressures and demands of today’s educational challenges.
Katy Sue possesses a deep understanding of the value of collaborative decision making within PLCs. As a teacher leader for eight years, she collaboratively helped guide her school to achieve Model PLC at Work recognition through Solution Tree, demonstrating her commitment to fostering a shared vision, a shared mission, and collective responsibility for student and adult learning. Katy Sue is coauthor of Anchor Your Vision: Navigational Tools and Strategies for Every Stage in a PLC at Work and Celebrate to Motivate: The Art of Inspiring Students, Staff, and the School Community.
Katy Sue earned her bachelor’s degree in business communication from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and her master’s degree in administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
To learn more about Katy Sue’s work, follow her @katysue3coff on X or Katy Sue Traicoff on LinkedIn.
