UNCW Watson College of Education's Professional Development System (PDS) School-University Partnership 2024 Exemplary PDS Award From the National Association of School and University Partnerships. The award was presented during his NASUP National Conference on March 25 in Anaheim, California.
“The Watson College of Education is thrilled to be recognized nationally for the strength of our school-university partnership,” said Carol McNulty, interim dean of the UNCW Watson College of Education. “The PDS partnerships we maintain with teachers, schools, and school districts greatly enhance our academic programs. IBEC and SEA-Tech are committed to enriching collaborations and pushing the traditional boundaries of educational experiences. It symbolizes the innovation that comes from the desire to do something.”
UNCW's PDS school-university partnership was created in 1993 to provide future teachers with classroom learning opportunities. Today, PDS spans 11 school districts, a university experimental school, and two public charter schools in Southeastern North Carolina, with over 2,000 students working collaboratively to support the needs of teacher education students and local teachers, schools, and districts. Includes a network of over 1,000 teachers. .
The NASUP award recognized UNCW's PDS for building and sustaining true collaborative partnerships with K-12 schools and meeting nine essential PDS standards. This award specifically recognizes the strength of the university's secondary education partnership with two of his innovative high schools in New Hanover County, Isaac Bear Early College High School and Southeast Area Technical High School (SEA-Tech). .
Over the past 10 years, Isaac Bear and SEA-Tech have supported 436 on-site placements and 29 internships for students enrolled in Watson's secondary education programs. Other collaborations include a school-wide book study focused on diversity, culture, and storytelling at SEA-Tech and the creation of Isaac's Academy for his future teaching career at Bear. Masu.
“We are proud that this award helps demonstrate the depth and breadth of our collaboration with IBEC and SEA-Tech,” said WCE PDS Director Summer Lewis. “Although they are very different, both are innovative, nontraditional high schools that share a commitment to challenging, engaging, and relevant student learning. It provides an ideal environment for in-service teachers in the program to gain field experience and internships.”
In addition to collaborating with school partners on the classroom experience for future teachers, WCE's PDS engages both school and university partners in the continuum of professional learning. Signature programs include the PDS Master Teacher Program for experienced teachers, the Promise of Leadership Program for early career teachers, the National Board Certification Support Program for teachers seeking the highest possible certification in the teaching profession; and the education-focused Educators of Color Network. Recruitment, retention, and advocacy efforts to diversify the education profession. Additional collaborative efforts will support the needs of individual schools and districts.
This is the second time UNCW's PDS partnership has been recognized as one of the nation's best examples of innovative partnerships with public schools. UNCW was the first recipient of NASUP's Exemplary His PDS Award in 2014 for the strength of the Elementary Education Block Network regarding student classroom placement.
For more information about UNCW's Professional Development System partnerships, please visit: PDS website.
