Special Opportunities

Professional Development Schools Opportunities
Professional Development Schools (PDS) are collaborative planning partnerships between BSU professional education programs and P-12 schools. The faculty in each PDS partnership work with faculty from Ball State to explore and develop initiatives that promote high quality professional development for the teachers in the school, high quality teacher preparation for BSU candidates who work in the school, improved learning and achievement for the students in the school, and research to improve teaching and learning.

There are currently 15 schools in the Ball State PDS Network, with more being added each year. PDS sites include urban and rural settings and provide especially rich experiences for future teachers. It is hoped that eventually all placements of candidates for practicum and student teaching experiences will be in PDS schools. For more information, visit the PDS Web site, or contact Peggy Lewis, Director of the BSU PDS Network, TC 307I, 765-285-3263.

Partnership Schools Opportunities
Ball State University partnership schools are educational sites that collaborate with the university to provide a supportive environment for a cohort of preservice teachers. This partnership model is a logical evolution of the need to improve the preservice field experiences and their supervision under the performance assessment model of teacher preparation. The teachers and administrators in the partner schools work closely with an assigned university supervisor to provide a high-quality student teaching experience for the student teachers. The placement of cohorts of students in the partnership schools assures a more consistent model of supervision for the student teaching experience.

There are currently 18 schools who have agreed to work in partnership with Ball State. These schools include both urban and rural settings and provide unique experiences for the student teachers. For more information regarding the partnership schools, please contact Judy Miller, Director of Teacher Education Services, TC 915, 765-285-1168.

Community Service
All teaching majors at Ball State University are involved in community service or service learning experiences as part of their professional preparation programs. These experiences are vital elements in the process of becoming a teacher, as they give candidates experiences working with diverse populations in diverse settings. These experiences also help candidates understand the cultural backgrounds and cultural resources that students bring with them to school.

Candidates in elementary education spend 50 hours in community service as part of EDEL 100 while secondary and all-grade majors spend 20 hours working in community agencies as part of EDMUL 205. This service takes place in a wide variety of settings including Boys and Girls Clubs, community centers, cultural organizations, child care facilities, and other youth organizations. Each semester, Ball State students contribute thousands of hours of service through these important agencies. In the process, Ball State students gain insights into the needs of communities and individuals, and experience the personal rewards that come from serving others. These experiences become a vital part of their preparation to become outstanding teachers.

International Programs
Many opportunities exist for teaching majors to include international experiences in their training at Ball State University. In addition to regular university international programs, elementary education majors may pursue part of their studies through special programs in England and Jamaica. Special overseas experiences are made available for secondary allgrade majors in York, England. Through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense Schools, Ball State University offers student teaching opportunities at elementary and secondary levels in Baumholder, Germany (MOV). For more details, click here. Graduate programs in elementary education are being developed in France and Australia. See your advisor for details about the possibility of including international experiences as part of your professional education program.

Cultural Immersion Program
(In collaboration with Indiana University)

Before completing the student teaching application, the student might consider other student teaching opportunities, which have led to very high employment success:

American Indian Reservation Project

  • Placements are in schools serving American Indian youth on the Navajo Reservations of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
  • Placements span 17 full weeks in the Navajo Nation.
  • Participants live in Bureau of Indian Affairs dormitories and contribute to the afterschool "dorm life" program.

Overseas Project

  • Placements are in schools in England, Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, India, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Kenya.
  • Participants student teach at least 10 weeks in Indiana, followed by 8 to 10 weeks overseas.
  • Participants live with families in their overseas communities.

Features of Both Projects

  • Preparation for the host culture and education system, issues and conditions of the placements sites, and participant responsibilities while on-site.
  • Friendships with members of the host culture and participation in their daily tasks of life.
  • On-site academic component through which participants process their school, community and cultural experiences and observations, and generate professional and personal changes and adaptations built upon new learning.
  • Graduate-level credit earned in addition to student teaching credit.
  • Up to 90% employment success upon completion of the Projects.
  • Placements available for elementary, secondary, and all grade majors.

Purposes for Enrolling

  • Cross-cultural teaching and living experience.
  • Contribute to development and acceptance of cultural pluralism study and contribute to American Indian and overseas education.
  • Adapt teaching styles and strategies to the culture of the pupils.
  • New friends, self-fulfillment, increase confidence.

Special Collaboration Program
Aldine Independent School District, Houston, Texas

The Aldine ISD is located north of downtown Houston and has a student population exceeding 58,000 students, over 90% of whom are classified as minority and 73% are classified as being economically disadvantaged. A collaboration between BSU and the district allows student teachers the opportunity to complete their field experience in this culturally and economically diverse district. To find out more about Aldine ISD, visit their Web site.

To find out more about these opportunities,
contact Judy Miller, director of the Office of Teacher Education Services.