What is the Pekin Professional Development School?
The Pekin Professional Development School (PDS) model is a university-public school partnership that combines teacher education and school reform to improve student learning. The intent of the PDS collaborative relationship is to provide a year-long internship which focuses on improved classroom learning, comprehensive preparation for preservice teachers, and professional development opportunities for district educators.

What does this year-long partnership in a PDS look like?
Participants in the Pekin Professional Development School are college seniors from Illinois State University. They are referred to as interns. These interns spend an entire school year in District 108. The year is divided into four phases:

Phase I: The intern is assigned to a mentor (cooperating teacher) in a classroom of one of the intern’s top three grade level preferences. During this phase which is about seven weeks, the intern will assist the classroom teacher by working with small groups of students, working individually with students, observing strategies and techniques that are being used, understanding resources that are available, and learning the science and art of teaching. When the intern is not in the classroom, he/she will be taking the required methods courses two days a week on site in the Pekin PDS room.

Phase II: This phase is similar to the first phase. However, the intern will be assigned to a different grade level with a mentor in a different District 108 school. They will continue with their methods coursework in the Pekin PDS room.

Phase III and IV: These phases are the student teaching phases. Typically, the intern returns to his or her Phase I classroom for an in-depth student teaching experience that continues for 16 weeks. The mentor and intern form a “Quality Team” partnership that focuses upon the needs of the children in the classroom and how the two partners can best meet those needs. As the intern assumes more teaching responsibility, the mentor takes on the role of an assistant-working with small groups of students or working with individual students on a variety of skills. This “Quality Team” partnership allows for an enhanced student teaching experience for the intern, for professional growth for the mentor, and most importantly, for the academic success of the students in the classroom.

What benefits are there to participating in the Pekin Professional Development School?

• Comprehensive year long internship
• Total immersion in the school culture
• Intensive and extensive clinical experiences and practice
• Opportunities for practice, reflection, and collegiality
• On-site methods coursework
• Linkage between course content and teaching practice
• Involvement in school-community relationships
• Cohort experience
• Recognition by prospective employers
• Promotion of best practices
• Quality Mentor-Intern team
• Preparation for the “real” teaching world