Creating Communities of Learning, Inquiry & Connection: Building The Westfield Professional Development School Network

Westfield Professional Development School Network Westfield State College & Westfield Public Schools

For Information Contact: Nitza M. Hidalgo, Ed.D. Professor of Education & Director, WPDS Network Westfield State College (413)

WPDS Network WPDS Network Franklin Avenue School Highland School Moseley School Southampton Road School Westfield State College Abner Gibbs School

WPDS Faculty

What is the WPDS Network?  The Westfield Professional Development School Network is a Partnership between Westfield State College and five Westfield Public Elementary Schools.

How can you get involved?  Apply to the PDS internship program.  Take any of the following classes: ED 220 Schools in American Culture (Raker) ED 221 Students with Special Needs (Goff & Redditt) ED 304 Teaching Writing & Expressive Art K-6 (Itterly) ED 306 Elementary Curriculum (Knowles & Sullivan) ED 317 Analysis & Correction of Reading Difficulties (Itterly) ED 319 Principles of Teaching & Learning (Templeton) ED 335 Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners (Berkowitz)

What is the WPDS Internship?  The internship is an integrated, year-long pre- practicum/practicum experience within a single classroom in a WPDS elementary school.  Students take their Curriculum course in the Fall and Student Teach in the Spring.  Students are monitored in their Fall pre-practicum by a WSC professor. In the Spring, the same professor becomes students’ practicum supervisor.  Intern Requirements: B average in Education courses. Must have passed all the teacher tests prior to internship. Must have met the diversity requirement in previous pre- practicum courses. Must have had different grade level assignments in previous pre-practicum courses.

Who are the WPDS faculty?  Prof. Sandy Berkowitz  Prof. B. J. Goff  Prof. Nitza Hidalgo  Prof. Kathy Itterly  Prof. Trudy Knowles  Prof. David Raker  Prof. Susan Redditt  Prof. Peggy Sullivan  Prof. Lolly Templeton

Professional Continuum Teacher Candidates Practitioners College Faculty

What are our Goals?  To Improve Teacher Education at the Undergraduate Level  To Provide Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers at the Elementary School Level

WPDS History: Fall 1999  WSC Faculty Meetings: Fall 1999  First Conversation: December 7, 1999

WPDS History: Spring 2000  WPDS Network Proposal, May 2000 Submitted to WSC Administration  End of Year Luncheon, May 23, 2000 Retreat Planning Committee established

WPDS History:  Retreat: October 28, 2000 Memorandum of Understanding  Signed by WSC & WPS administrators Formal Launch of the WPDS Network Preliminary Definition of PDS Identity

WPDS History:  Eisenhower Grant Funding Academic year  Teacher-in-Residence Program Begins, September 2000  Needs Assessment All five schools participated  Forty five teachers responded

WPDS History:  Individual School Action Plans  First College/School Projects Based on Action Plans Connected to Needs Assessment

WPDS Organizational Chart

Critical Stakeholders  Teacher Teams teacher liaison  Building Principals  PDS College Faculty  Dean of Education (WSC)  Director of Personnel (WPS)  PDS Coordinator  PDS Director

WPDS Organizational Chart

What are some WPDS Activities?  Hold Monthly Meetings  Conduct Individual School Projects  Provide On-Site Graduate Courses  Direct the Multi-School PDS Internship Program  Promote Co-Teaching activities  Organize an End-of-Year Conference  Publish Newsletters

WPDS Components  Monthly Meetings  Individual School Projects  Teacher & Faculty Liaisons  Teacher-In-Residence  Co-Teaching

WPDS Partnership Westfield Professional Development School Network Franklin Avenue School Highland School Moseley School Southampton Road School Westfield State College Abner Gibbs School

Perspectives  College Dean of Education Student Intern Student

College Admin. Perspective  Dean of Education Provides Insights on How the WPDS Benefits the College

College Student Perspective  Student Intern Reflects on her Practicum

College Student Perspective  Prepracticum Student Talks about Working in the After School Homework Club

Perspectives  School Administrative Practitioner Students

Administrative Perspective  Benefits of WPDS at the Elem. Schools  Strengthens the relationship between WSC and WPS  Prepares new teachers  Professional Development  Supports teachers and schools

Administrative Perspective  WPDS Impact on Elem. Schools  College as a resource  Staff involvement in courses  Achievement for students  Better prepared pre-service students

Administrative Perspective  Future Goals & Projects  Involve more schools  Model programs at schools  Expand prepracticum & practicum opportunities

Practitioner Perspective  More Direct Services to Children  Children benefit greatly  Develop programs where there are gaps & needs  Nature of services change as needs change

Practitioner Perspective  Input into the Education of Teacher Candidates  Teaching workshops and courses at the college  Discussions with faculty about pre- service programs

Practitioner Perspective  Strengthens the skills & knowledge of practitioners  Continuing education by college faculty  Input by college faculty on special projects & areas of need  Greater participation

Elem. Ed. Student Perspective  Southampton Road School Students Talk about the After School Homework Club

Southampton Road School Southampton Road Team Teacher Liaison Faculty Liaison After School Homework Club Increased Presence of WSC Students Year-Long Internship Program Co-Teaching

WPDS SRS  Teacher Liaison  Faculty Liaison

WPDS SRS  Co-Teaching  Year Long Internship

WPDS SRS  After School Homework Club  Increased Roles Taken by WSC Students Each Year

WPDS SRS  On-Site Graduate Level Technology Courses Teacher Tools in the Wired Classroom Utilizing Teacher Tools in the Wired Classroom

WPDS SRS  Daily increased presence of WSC students

Struggles  Commitment from College & District  Money/Yearly Funding From Academic Affairs & School System  Release Time  Levels of Participation  Turnover of Staff

WPDS Network Vision  WPDS Network Continues to Evolve Changing programs and participants  Our Reputation has Grown in the District More schools want to join or take our students  Documentation of PDS as a Reform Effort Systematic data collection  Greater Impact on Teaching and Learning College level & school level

Moseley Elementary School Moseley Team Needs Assessment Teacher Liaison Faculty Liaison Multicultural Celebration Project Year-long Internship Program Co-Teaching

Highland Elementary School Highland Team Teacher Liaison Faculty Liaison Apprenticeship Model Integration of the Arts Project Year-Long Internship Program Co-Teaching

Abner Gibbs Elementary School Abner Gibbs Team Teacher Liaison Faculty Liaison Responsive Classroom Project Co-Teaching On-Site Course

Franklin Avenue School Franklin Ave. Team Teacher Liaison Mentoring Program Year-Long Internship Program Co- Teaching