Creating Visions For University School Partnerships

In keeping with the tradition set forth in volumes 1-4, this fifth volume, Creating Visions for University- School Partnerships: A Volume in Professional Development School Research, continues to exemplify current thinking of practitioners and researchers in the field. The range of authors from the Prek-16 arena illustrates the ways in which professional development schools generate possible solutions to the complex problems facing educators. The diversity of their work represents perspectives of classroom teachers, preservice teachers, school leaders, and university faculty who grapple with identifying “ways of knowing” and “ways of doing” that enhance educational outcomes for Prek-12 students while also serving to transform the profession. The volume’s contents of 19 chapters divided into four areas: (1) Clinically Rich Practices (2) PDS Stakeholders’ Perspectives (3) Enriching Content Area Instruction (4) Family Engagement, gives us a more vivid picture of the work that partnerships are doing to fulfill the PDS promise for improving teaching and learning at every level.

Rich clinical preparation combined with progressive experiences in professional development school (PDS) settings are proposed to bring about systemic and impactful transformation of educator preparation and professional growth in order to improve and enhance P-12 student learning. In this book, diverse authors describe their efforts to forge PDS partnerships to develop and deliver high quality training and practical experiences for candidates, and simultaneously provide professional development for experienced practitioners in ways that mirror recommendations found in authoritative reports and literature. The authors’ collective wisdom is vividly captured in the multi-voiced chapters that are collaborations between cooperating teachers, school administrators, county and district level administrators, university supervisors, and instructional faculty. The contexts authors write about are recognizable, and the accomplishments they experienced and challenges faced will resonate with institutions courageously undertaking change or renewal. The book will be invaluable to school and university faculty and administrators as they transition to a partnering model of clinical preparation for teacher candidates: it will help stakeholders decide if their schools and institutions are ready to commit to a partnership, and highlight the benefits they stand to gain, but realistically address challenges that may be faced by administrators and faculties as well as teacher candidates in the PDS enterprise.

Professional Development Schools are complex and comprehensive school university partnerships focusing on professional development of new teachers and veteran teachers while providing high quality education to P-12 students. The chapters of this book contain the stories of 8 highly successful and nationally recognized professional development schools. Each story provides the reader with practical ideas, procedures and policies that can be implemented by the reader to begin new partnerships or help improve and sustain existing partnerships. Each chapter discusses the rich clinical preparation combined with progressive experiences in PDSs that have made the partnership successful. The diverse authors from several different states describe their efforts to forge PDS partnerships to develop and deliver high quality teacher preparations, practical experiences for teacher candidates, and simultaneously provide professional development for experienced practitioners. The book will be a valuable resource to school and university faculty and administrators as they transition to a partnering model of clinical preparation for teacher candidates: it will help stakeholders decide if their schools and institutions are ready to commit to a partnership, and highlight the benefits they stand to gain. The book also realistically addresses challenges in a way the reader can prepare for to reduce obstacles in establishing and sustaining PDSs.

As with any industry, the education sector goes through frequent changes due to modern technological advancements. It is every educator’s duty to keep up with these shifting requirements and alter their teaching style to best fit the needs of their classroom. Pre-Service and In-Service Teacher Education: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications explores the current state of pre-service teacher programs as well as continuing education initiatives for in-service educators. It also emphasizes the growing role of technology in teacher skill development and training as well as key pedagogical developments and methods. Highlighting a range of topics such as teacher preparation programs, teaching standards, and fieldwork and practicum experiences, this multi-volume book is designed for pre-service teachers, teacher educators, researchers, professionals, and academics in the education field.

Performance-based assessments have become a critical component of every teacher education program. Such assessments allow teacher candidates to demonstrate their content and pedagogical knowledge, skills, and dispositions in an authentic setting. Evaluating Teacher Education Programs through Performance-Based Assessments analyzes and discusses the theory and concepts behind teacher education program evaluation using assessment tools such as lesson plans, classroom artifacts, student work examples, and video recordings of lessons. Emphasizing critical real-world examples and empirically-based studies, this research-based publication is an ideal reference source for university administrators, teacher educators, K-12 leaders, and graduate students in the field of education.

Teacher Preparation at the Intersection of Race and Poverty in Today's Schools introduces the reader to a collection of thoughtful works by authors that represent current thinking about teacher preparation. Importantly, the book is divided into two primary sections, the first being four chapters that offer understanding of the depth and breadth of the intersection of race and poverty as it relates to teaching and teacher preparation. The second section presents Dialogues of Teacher Education focused on “Meeting the Challenge of Race and Poverty in Our Schools: The Role of Teacher Education” with eight contributing authors who reflect on and give voice to meeting the challenge. Finally, two book reviews are presented that align with the concern for preparing teachers to enter schools at the intersection of race and poverty on a daily basis.

How can we partner with our communities to improve school programs increase students’ success? Community involvement is a powerful tool in generating resources essential for educational excellence. This sharp, insightful book is an excellent resource for educators seeking to establish school-community partnerships to achieve goals for their schools, students, and communities. Work successfully with community partners to improve school programs, strengthen families, and expand students’ learning experiences by collaborating with community partners such as: Businesses and corporations Universities and higher learning institutions National and local volunteer organizations Social service agencies and health partners Faith-based organizations

Creating Effective Partnerships for School Improvement places the school within the community which is composed of a number of key players, including school leaders, classroom teachers, private foundations, higher education institutions, business and community based organizations, and government agencies. This book encourages leaders to embrace this broader community of stakeholders and to focus on the often overlooked and underutilized college and university partnerships. Grounded in case study analysis of innovative programs and practices, this book explores research-based strategies for educational leaders to implement in order to develop and sustain effective partnerships. Creating Effective Partnerships for School Improvement is an important text for aspiring and practicing administrators interested in creating effective partnerships for school improvement. Special Features: Reflective exercises and portfolio building activities help aspiring and practicing leaders make on-the-ground connections. Learning objectives, key terms, and additional resources further engage readers with the chapter content. Extensive appendices with sample activities, evaluation plans, meeting agendas, promotional materials, and budgets provide additional support to leaders. Alignment to the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) Standards.