TARGET: Establish an exemplary professional development school with Illinois State University.
ACCOMPLISHED: IN PROGRESS: FOCUS:
  • Developed vision, values, mission and goals for professional development school (PDS).
  • Established fiscal and human resources necessary for year one operation.
  • Established budget from district to support personnel, facilities, materials, training.
  • Established budget from Illinois State University to support staffing.
  • Established budget from Soldwedel Foundation to support technology- laptops, equipment, etc.
  • Established collaboration and cooperation among university and district for program development.
  • Provided clinical observation experience for interns at primary and intermediate levels.
  • Provided methods instruction to interns in language arts, science, social studies, reading and technology as part of experience at district site.
  • Provided intern and mentor teacher orientation.
  • Developed professional portfolios for interns and posted to web site.
  • Conducted evaluation of program from interns, mentor teachers and staff.
  • Attended forums with IPLP (Illinois Professional Learning Partnership) and visited other PDS sites.
  • Incorporating Illinois Learning Standards as part of PDS curriculum.
  • Addressing national certification standards as part of intern expectations.
  • Reviewing expectations for ISU and District liaisons.
  • Appointing Jerry Jenks as ISU liaison for 2000-2001.
  • Conducting summer retreat for PDS instructional staff.
  • Reviewing curriculum and integration of best practices in language arts, social studies, science and technology methods instruction as part of summer retreat.
  • Expanding PDS to middle school in the science area.
  • Receiving $22,334 from Goals 2000 grant for program expansion.
  • Reviewing application process for mentor teachers.
  • Refining professional portfolio, mock interview process and placement services requirements.
  • Continuing to receive fiscal support from ISU and district.
  • Continuing collaboration with other PDS sites.
    • Will draft a long-range plan for the PDS.
    • Will continue to pursue expansion of PDS to include middle school and early childhood.
    • Will review schedule to involve ISU instruction team in all phases of internship.
    • Will study establishing graduate assistantships in which district faculty would assist ISU instructors.
    • Will explore ways ISU can assist the district with professional development.
    • Will utilize summer planning retreat to integrate methods instruction with classroom SAI.
    • Will explore ways district and ISU can conduct action research.
    • Will continue to pursue technological connections between ISU and district.
    • Will utilize Soldwedel Foundation to further goals of PDS.
    • Will get active in Holmes Partnership and in networking with other PDS sites.
    • Will develop brochure and video for recruitment.
    • Will collaborate with mentor teachers to develop assessment tools, units of instruction and how to be an effective mentor.