This study investigated how six mentor teachers understood and negotiated their roles as mentors in an elementary professional development school (PDS). Data were collected over 18 months from mentor and intern journals, field notes, interviews, e-mails, meeting minutes, and transcripts from PDS meetings. Each teacher participated in interviews…

Reports on interviews with 12 veteran elementary school teachers involved in developing and maintaining a professional development school (PDS) in southern Ontario (Canada) during its first four years. The teachers thought that the PDS was successful and had promoted their professional development but had not affected their instructional…

After examining the beginning of the professional development school (PDS) movement, this paper describes the PDS model; discusses PDSs, teacher education, and school reform; and presents critical attributes of PDSs (nurturing a true learning community, stressing collaboration, and creating greater professional and public accountability).…

Describes issues experienced by university faculty members during the creation of two university/middle school partnerships. Benefits included a broader community of professional colleagues, opportunities for research collaboration, and firsthand experience with school reform. Tensions included conflicts with the university's reward system, time…

A model professional development school (PDS) serves Celebration, Florida, a planned community built by the Disney Corporation. The K-12 Celebration School resulted from cooperation among the Osceola County School District, Stetson University, and Disney. In this PDS, featuring multiage groupings and individualized instruction, students, staff,…

To improve teacher preparation, higher education must collaborate with public schools. Hindrances to collaboration include reward structures in higher education and programs of study (including that for future higher education faculty). The paper examines proposals for supporting teacher education faculty who work cooperatively with public schools…

One of five articles in the section on the "Promise and Purpose of Professional Development Schools," this article discusses the inherent institutional forces that work to counteract attempts at influential change. The paper reports on the establishment of a PDS program in a school/university partnership at Indiana State University,…

One of five articles in the section on the "Promise and Purpose of Professional Development Schools," this article examines essential purposes of PDS and presents recommendations for action (start small, adopt a developmental approach, co-construct and monitor relationships, redefine school/university roles, re-educate and support…

One of four articles in the third section, "Reflection: What We Have Learned," this article presents and discusses 11 components of a partnership between an urban high school and the University of Louisville (Kentucky). The partnership has many of the characteristics of a professional development school although it does not have that…

One of four articles in the fourth section, "Aspects of Evaluation of PDS," this article calls for improved definitions of professional development schools; analyses of startup and ongoing costs (including determination of where the money will come from); and development of PDS standards for improved evaluation (including standards by which they…

In 2001, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education published "Standards for Professional Development Schools," which differ from the 1997 draft standards in their explicit attention to large networks of professional development schools (PDS). Exemplary practices from four large PDS networks demonstrate the applicability of the…

Describes a professional development school (PDS) relationship between Teachers College, Columbia University, and a New York City high school serving diverse students, highlighting action research projects conducted by teaching interns at the high school who were also master's students in secondary education programs at Teachers College. The paper…

Evaluated the Model Education Center (MEC) Professional Development School after 15 years of existence. Focus group data were collected from teachers at the MEC. Results found that 15 years after implementation, the MEC's core beliefs of collaboration, reflective thinking, risk taking, and continuous learning were still reflected in the climates…

Describes events leading to the establishment of four urban professional development schools (PDS) by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Schools. School sites, university/school district interaction, preservice student activities, and schoolwide change projects are described. Results of a survey of site teachers on PDS…

Using inducements-contribution theory, this study examines 12 high school teachers' experiences in a collaborative teacher education program and identifies and analyzes the balance between demands and rewards for teachers. The partnership--the Comprehensive Teacher Education Institute--has as its goal establishment of a professional development…