A Professional Development School Partnership - Annotated by Renee Campoy (Hardcover)

About the Book

The professional development school (PDS) is a unique educational reform initiative that attempts the simultaneous reform of education at the school and the university. By conducting reform at both levels of education, the PDS is a solution to the piecemeal reforms of the past, from Dewey's Progressivism to the Sputnik reforms to New Math to Whole Language, which have targeted educational change in the public schools but most have overlooked the preparation of new teachers.

The PDS addresses the professional development of experienced teachers in the field, the preparation of new teachers, and improvement of the programs of K-12 schools at the same time and at the same place--the school site. In this way, reform goals are agreed upon and implemented by both new and experienced teachers so that reform efforts are seamlessly supported by all parties involved. Nevertheless, most educators engaged in PDS reform agree that PDSs are a high stakes reform effort and are fraught with difficulties. This case study provides an annotated road map of one PDS partnership so that others interested in partnership work are provided general principles to guide their work.

Book Synopsis

The professional development school (PDS) is a unique educational reform initiative that attempts the simultaneous reform of education at the school and the university. By conducting reform at both levels of education, the PDS is a solution to the piecemeal reforms of the past, from Dewey's Progressivism to the Sputnik reforms to New Math to Whole Language, which have targeted educational change in the public schools but most have overlooked the preparation of new teachers.

The PDS addresses the professional development of experienced teachers in the field, the preparation of new teachers, and improvement of the programs of K-12 schools at the same time and at the same place--the school site. In this way, reform goals are agreed upon and implemented by both new and experienced teachers so that reform efforts are seamlessly supported by all parties involved. Nevertheless, most educators engaged in PDS reform agree that PDSs are a high stakes reform effort and are fraught with difficulties. This case study provides an annotated road map of one PDS partnership so that others interested in partnership work are provided general principles to guide their work.

Review Quotes

"Campoy has produced a notable and important account of one of the major current reforms in teacher education and schooling. The book should be helpful for anyone thinking about beginning and implementing a professional development school relationship."-Louis M. Smith Professor Emeritus Department of Education Washington University in St. Louis

"This is one of the most important and critical books on professional development schools that has been written. Dr. Campoy has captured the essential problem of the divergent institutional missions that confound universities and schools as they attempt to develop this innovation which has been so advocated by the Holmes Group of universities. It has been found that more than a few marginal individuals are required for partnership development to proceed. There are also strong suggestions of the political and organizational changes that will be necessary so that professional development schools make more than a surface change in the world of educational innovations."-Samuel Mitchell Professor and Coordinator The Graduate Division of Educational Research The University of Calgary

About the Author

RENEE W. CAMPOY is Assistant Professor of Elementary and Secondary Education, Murray State University, Kentucky./e