Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PDS (professional development school)?
- a collaboration between the university and public school communities
- focused on empowering stakeholders to improve teaching and learning for all
- student achievement increased through joint identification of specific and common goals
- invention of a new institution
Why a PDS?
- PDSs are places that promote high quality education for all children and for teachers at all levels: pre-service, in-service, and higher education faculty
- support "simultaneous renewal" efforts
- create "learning organizations" which become sites for research and inquiry into teaching and learning
- integrate technology to support and enhance learning
- Provides opportunities to bring all stakeholders together to meet the challenges of improving student performance
What a PDS is not!
- merely a place to train student teachers
- a "lab school" managed by the university
- "business as usual"
What are some direct benefits of being a PDS?
- Communications - shared discussions to better prepare teacher candidates in training.
- Cooperating Teacher training for teachers to help teacher candidates
- Targeted professional development activities for K-12 and CLU Faculty
- Simultaneous professional development renewal through the mentoring of student teachers
- Development of leadership skills through the creation of a collaborative professional learning community
- Tutoring activities for K-12 students
- Curriculum review and revision
- Assistance with technology intervention
- Additional human resources in the classroom through student teaching and undergraduate internship programs
- CLU Faculty available for additional support and professional development