Improved professional education for teachers, counselors, and school administrators is needed in order to successfully reform schooling. Fundamental change in professional education requires educational partnerships between schools and universities. The professional development school (PDS) represents a pivotal element in the strategy of utilizing…

This report contains case studies of two teachers who attempt to go beyond traditional mathematics curriculum and instruction. There are important differences in the contexts of teaching and in the approaches to studying teaching and learning in these two classrooms. Case study 1 describes a teacher who draws upon professional experiences to…

This study examined the work of six mentor teachers participating in an elementary-level Professional Development School (PDS). Over 18 months, the researcher collected qualitative data using a descriptive case study method. Data collection included journal entries written by mentors and interns, field notes, interviews, e-mail, meeting minutes,…

Collaboration between schools and institutions of higher education (IHE) is usually effective only when values are shared and mutual dependencies are recognized. These conditions are uncommon. The foundation upon which such collaboration could be developed requires several building blocks: (1) developing shared goals regarding teacher learning;…

Models for preparing teachers to work knowledgeably and effectively with diverse populations are needed. The primary purpose of the Learning to Teach Diverse Populations project (Houston, Texas) is to reduce the drop-out rate of new teachers assigned to inner-city schools by training student teachers in a supportive inner-city school environment.…

Of all the reform efforts current in teacher education, the professional development school (PDS) advocated by the Holmes Group shows the greatest promise because it seeks to tie reforms in teacher education to reforms in schools themselves. This document describes how one institution of higher education (University of Utah) and one school…

This report summarizes the discussions of a task force which focused on the concept of professional practice schools. These schools are public elementary, middle, or secondary schools which are structured, staffed, and supported to achieve three goals: student achievement, teacher induction, and support of research directed at the continuous…

This paper challenges the traditional teacher autonomy model, which assumes that classroom teachers are isolated practitioners charged with teaching classrooms of students independently for most of the school day. It asserts that the realities of modern schools have changed, and teachers are often not as isolated as they once were. Salisbury…

Research shows that teacher quality may be one of the most significant factors in student achievement. This report includes five chapters that focus on: (1) "Introduction and Executive Summary"; (2) "Coordinating K-12 and Higher Education to Support High-Quality Teacher Preparation" (e.g., coordinating teacher candidate experience in K-12 and…

Field experiences and clinical practice are considered the most important and most influential component of teacher preparation programs. The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (NCATE) has established six standards to measure the effectiveness of teacher education programs; field experiences and clinical practice…

In the summer of 1996, the Principals' Center at Texas A&M University established a School Leadership Initiative (SLI) that focused on the 21 principal-performance domains as identified by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration. During the first year of a 3-year leadership initiative, Texas A&M University's SLI Program…

This paper describes one professor's sabbatical leave, when he returned to a third/fourth grade classroom as a teacher. It examines logistical arrangements necessary for success and insights gained. He worked in a Professional Development School (PDS) for 1 year, mentoring a PDS intern, 2 student teachers in the traditional preservice program, and…

This study explored the experiences of six preservice teachers who participated as interns in a Professional Development School (PDS), examining how they understood and made sense of their experience of learning teach in a PDS context. Researchers used a phenomenological case study with narrative inquiry, collecting data from interviews, field…

This study explored how interns in an elementary Professional Development School (PDS) learning community experienced supervision through collegial interactions, conversations, co-teaching, and collaborative reflection with multiple mentors. Each intern was supervised by a Professional Development Associate who provided supervisory support for the…

Responds to three articles in previous issues of this journal on teaching classroom management in preservice teacher education. Outlines how Texas Southern University students learn and practice management approaches in field-based classes, which makes their learning constructivist, learner centered, and powerful. (SM)