Professional Development School

 

The Professional Development School program is an optional year-long student teaching experience offered by Illinois State University. This year-long internship completely immerses the student teacher, known as an intern, into the school setting from the start of the school year. Before the students return to school, the intern establishes a relationship with the mentor and school, by helping the mentor set-up the classroom and attending school and district meetings. From August to mid-October, interns are in their phase one classroom, which is the classroom they will return to student teach in second semester. From mid-October to December, interns are placed into their phase two classroom. In my particular situation, I split my phase two placement, spending two and a half weeks in a kindergarten classroom and five and a half weeks in a seventh and eighth grade science classroom. In addition to spending three and a half days a week in the classroom, interns take four rigorous methods courses.   

 

Benefits of the Professional Development School Program

• 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

 

 

Pekin Professional Development

School Fish! Philosophy

 

Play

 

Make their Day

 

Choose your Attitude

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Be There