Office of Field Experiences

PDS Network Coordinator – a university-supported position.  The PDS Network

Coordinator organizes all network activities including but not limited to the following:

• Bimonthly PIR meetings
• Regular email communication to inform PIRs of current professional development
• Opportunities for themselves and the staff in their PDSs
• Annual celebration of PDS accomplishments
• Prepares contracts for individual PDSs
• Organizes meetings of the PDS Network Advisory Council
• Coordinates events for individual PDS at the university
• Assists in organizing PD workshops at the university and in network schools

Professors in Residence (PIRs) – full-time and adjunct university faculty who spend a

minimum of one day per week in a PDS assisting school leadership teams in meeting

their annual goals for school improvement and who work with individual teachers in their

classrooms on best practices.  PIRs coordinate placements of university candidates in

their PDS and recommend innovative teachers in their schools to conduct workshops

and teach at the university.  In addition to conducting workshops, modeling and serving

as a catalyst for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in their PDS they serve as

the communications liaison between the PDS and the university.

PDS Advisory Council – the purpose of this group is to build a sustainable network that

improves communication, evaluates effectiveness, provides for systematic sharing and

disseminates innovative practice. This council serves as an advisor to the PDS

Network; it meets meeting a minimum of twice annually to reflect on the mission of the

network, PDS goals and activities, and ways to improve communication and celebrate

accomplishments.

School-based Leadership Teams – all PDSs have school-based leadership teams and

PIRs serve as members of these teams and or the Professional development

Committees within each PDS.  These teams/committees set the priorities within the

school and provide a focus for professional development for that year.

District Liaisons – often there is a person at the district level who helps to coordinate

PDS involvement in that district.  In some cases all schools within a district may be a

PDS.  District liaisons are very involved in all common grant applications and overall

changes in a district related to curriculum, etc.

Co-teaching Faculty -  PDS-based teachers and university faculty co-teach in the PDSs. 

Specifically, a course titled, Literacy and Learning, has been co-taught for more than 6

years with several PDS partners.  PDS teachers are paid by the university to serve as

faculty in this co-teaching model.

Cooperating and Collaborating Teachers – PDS-based teachers who welcome students

from the university into their classrooms for of variety of field experiences including the

following:

Observations, class visits, tutoring, practicum, student teaching and residencies