HOW A RURAL EPP BUILT SUSTAINABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CLINICAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIVERSE K-12 DISTRICTS Northwest Missouri State Leadership Team AACTE, 2016 February 24, 2016

Northwest & Partners Dean- Dr. Joyce Piveral Chairperson- Dr. Dan Gordon Clinical Field Coordinator- Dr. Greg Rich NW-KC Faculty Liaison- Dr. Vicki Seeger Diversity Team leader- Dr. David Kiene Redesign leader- Dr. Sue Wood Assistant Superintendent & HR Director, Independence (MO) school district – Dr. Linda Gray Smith

Introduction and guiding questions How do we build sustainable clinical experiences and partnerships which enhance PK-12 and University diversity? What principles guide our partnerships? How do rural Educator Prep Programs (EPP) respond to fiscal challenges and still build solid clinical partnerships? What are the pathways and thought processes that yield strategic education partnerships in the United Kingdom? What are promising practices for urban-located EPP for quality clinical linkages with great content and instruction?

Dr. Tim Wall, session organizer Merging Concepts from three presentations: Rural EPP seeking to build co-developed, diverse clinical partnerships UK partners: psychological underpinnings of strategic connections Urban EPP striving to meet needs of diverse districts and engage in impactful practices with rich content knowledge Emphasize solutions to shared challenges: Fiscal challenges National accreditation

CAEP standard 2.1: Co-development of Clinical Partnerships

Dr. Joyce Piveral, Dean Context: state and organization (Northwest Missouri State University) Normal school, Accredited since Teacher candidates come from MO, NE, KS, IA Using University resources to meet standards, challenges and expectations State funding cuts from 60% to 30% Agreement with governor – no tuition increase Essential, important, and elective use of resources Should we bus candidates 90 miles?

Dr. Dan Gordon, DPE chair Context: our students Predominantly first-generation college students Most receive financial aid Small communities, not ethnically diverse Goal: all our candidates have high-quality clinical diverse experience “Good rural kids.” Big hearts. Next- Dr. Kiene shares about developing those big hearts

Student 1.Exploring one's own socio-historical background and its role in identity formation; Analyzing one's own biases and assumptions; 2.Examining how their identity impacts their interactions with others; 3.Synthesizing the above competencies to understand a larger system of inequities. Geography 1.University 2.Communities 3.Student Teaching Placement Dr. David Kiene

Greg Rich – Director of Clinical Placements Development of strategic clinical partnerships Development of Student Teaching Hubs Regional hubs in KC, Omaha, High-quality training for university supervisors Advise/Plan for final student teaching placement “don’t get a year-long lease” Mentoring and induction of teachers in partnership with K- 12 districts

Dr. Linda Gray Smith, K-12 and Assistant Superintendent HR Director Benefits to school district and the university Contact someone from University which prepares good teachers Collaboration with Dean, Chair, Provost, faculty members “Not scared to cross the river” A match between needs University – create diverse partnerships and clinical field placements All graduates have a high-quality, in depth clinical field experience School district- need excellent teachers. Need a pipeline.

NW students in PK-12 settings

Dr. Linda Gray Smith, K-12 and Assistant Superintendent HR Director Fairmount Elementary in Independence (KC-area), Missouri 50% English-Language Learners 60% students of color 98% eligible for free and reduced lunch

Dr. Linda Gray Smith - ISD Guarantees from Independence School District Placing with our best Working in well-managed classrooms Working with well-led schools Teachers and principals who will mentor Strong culture

Vicki Seeger – Faculty liaison NW-KC Integral part of literacy methods course Not optional Grown out of a collaboration experience occurring in Maryville (Overcoming) Faculty resistance (initially) Improvement and change from positive experience Our students want summer practicum in diverse clinical setting Word of mouth - powerful Our students want to student teach in Independence

Dr. Sue Wood, Faculty Strategic Partnerships: Developing Advisory Council Total redesign of elementary education “You really listened!” Think: win-win for relationships and partnerships