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SALISBURY, MD---ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ University recently received a $30,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to create professional development schools at Pittsville Elementary and Williards Primary schools.

The grant proposal was authored by Dr. Laurie Andes, assistant professor of education in the Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½.  Dr. Teena Gorrow, assistant professor of education in the Seidel School, will be the professional development school (PDS) coordinator, and Dr. Nancy Michelson, assistant professor of education in the Seidel School, is the project coordinator.

The Pittsville and Williards schools will become partners with ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in delivering professional teacher education courses at the PDS.  The collaboration will provide year-long, on-site field experiences for preservice teachers, professional development opportunities and collaborative teaching for inservice teachers, and increased student reading achievement through the use of focused strategies that support MSPAP and the Core Learning Goals.

The project invites preservice teachers to observe and discuss, and later teach, in authentic classroom settings prior to interning.  The goal is to create a higher level of expertise among teachers entering the profession, particularly in the areas of creating a learning community, using effective classroom management, planning and implementing student centered lessons, and monitoring student learning.

The partnerships of school and ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ faculty in the delivery of teacher education courses is expected to facilitate the link between theory and practice for preservice teachers.  Inservice teachers will participate in professional growth opportunities in collaborative teaching and reading instruction.  University faculty will become more familiar with current practice and problems in the classroom, and P-12 students will be actively engaged in learning activities that support their performance, specifically in reading and on MSPAP and Core Learning Goals.