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Connections and Growth: Join the Baker Elementary Alumni Professional Learning Community

The Baker School of Education’s Elementary Alumni Professional Learning Community is a community of passionate educators who are continuing to learn, share, and grow together beyond graduation.

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(L to R) Dr. Katie Cole, Drew Klein, Abigail Sherer, Rachael Potter

Created in 2025, Baker School of Education’s Elementary Alumni Professional Learning Community (PLC) is more than just a network—it is a community of passionate educators continuing to learn, share, and grow together to provide support and immediately actionable strategies to alumni. Designed for elementary education alumni from their first year of teaching to well into their career, the Elementary Alumni PLC offers a welcoming space to connect with fellow graduates, exchange ideas, and stay inspired in your teaching journey.

The PLC is organized by three alumni leaders: Drew Klein (BA Elementary Education ’21, MAT English for Speakers of Other Languages ’22), Rachael Potter (BA Elementary Education ’23, MAT Early Childhood Education ’24), and Abigail Sherer (BA Elementary Education ’23, MAT Special Education Learning Disabilities ’24), along with Baker adjunct faculty member, Dr. Katie Cole. Together, with support from faculty member Dr. Tracy Spesia, this space was created where collaboration, encouragement, and professional curiosity come to life.

The Elementary Alumni PLC kicked off the year with two engaging and highly practical events designed to support alumni who are elementary teachers.

The first, offered online in August, “Building Your Classroom,” focused on the foundational work of setting up the physical environment, routines, and expectations that help students thrive. Alumni shared ideas for designing welcoming and organized learning spaces, establishing consistent classroom procedures, and creating a positive classroom culture from day one. Participants left with concrete, ready-to-implement strategies to set their students—and themselves—up for success.

The second hybrid event in November, “Cultivating a Consistent and Calm Classroom,” provided tools and strategies to support productive learning for all students. In this interactive session, alumni discussed real challenges from their own classrooms, worked collaboratively to problem-solve, and shared approaches that help maintain focus, community, and calm even in the most demanding teaching moments. The conversation underscored the power of collective wisdom—reminding participants that teaching is stronger and more sustainable when it’s shared.

The Elementary Alumni PLC continues to grow and invites all alumni of Baker’s Elementary Education program to join. To ensure the PLC continues to reflect the real needs and passions of its members, the group is looking for input from alumni about which topics, formats, and supports will be most meaningful for future events.

Alumni looking to get involved, share ideas, or simply stay in the loop, should join the Baker Elementary Education Alumni PLC listserv and provide feedback here.

One participant stated after the November event, “Appreciated the shared wisdom! I already implemented a brain break strategy that we discussed last night.”

Program leaders Klein, Potter, and Sherer invite all elementary education alumni to join this growing community of educators who are learning, leading, and teaching with purpose.