December 1, 2005

SUMMARY
Ball State University PDS Network Advisory Council
Institute Meeting #19
December 1, 2005
9:00 - 12:30
Minnetrista

Associate Dean Laurie Mullen opened the meeting by welcoming the 88 members and guests. She expressed appreciation for all of the collaborative work being done within the PDS Network to improve teacher education at Ball State.

Ruth Swetnam, director of the Network, also welcomed the guests and asked for introductions of individuals new to the Network this year. Apple Tree Child Development Center was recognized as the newest PDS. A special thank you and best wishes were extended to Judy Miller, executive director of Huffer Memorial Children's Center. Judy has been involved in PDS activities since 1998 and is retiring at the end of the year. Ruth congratulated Tracy Shafer, Wes-Del principal, for being named the District VI distinguished principal of the year by the Indiana Principals' Association. Ron Purtlebaugh, teacher at Mitchell, was recognized for being the Great Lakes Regional Winner of the 2005 International Reading Association Presidential Award for Reading and Technology. Rhoades Elementary School was congratulated for being 1 of the 11 schools in Indiana to earn a 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools award. Ruth explained that stories about Apple Tree, Tracy Shafer, Ron Purtlebaugh, and Rhoades are featured in the new edition of the PDS Network News. The newsletters will now be published as a pdf file on the Ball State PDS Web site.

Cynthia Whitehair and Jeri McCorkle from Cowan Elementary and Ron Purtlebaugh and Mike McKenzie from Mitchell Elementary have been writing curriculum and participating both at school and on site for the Electronic Field Trips (EFT). EFT will be giving a free flight in the zero – gravity plane to a teacher this year. Ruth encouraged teachers to register for this free flight by e-mailing eft@bsu.edu before December 5.

Ruth reminded the group that each PDS is to host a site visit after three years in the Network. Following this initial review, another visit is to occur within five years. Broad Ripple High School will host a site visit team on February 7. Spring site visits are to be scheduled for Orchard Park, Cowan, Storer, and Wilson.

The dates for the spring Institute meetings were announced. The secondary meeting will be held at Tanglewood Conference Center in Anderson on Tuesday, April 18. The elementary group will meet on Thursday, April 20, at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Ruth reviewed the meeting agenda. She asked everyone to take the last 15 minutes of the morning to complete the Benchmark and write suggestions. These ideas are used to plan future meetings. Ruth thanked the following people for their participation in designing the agenda and organizing the meeting: Diana Badger, Karen Dowling, Mary Ann Flanary, Linda Huber, Vicky Marcus, Pat Moore, Vicky Pugsley, and Lesley Schaeffer. She also expressed appreciation to Minnetrista for hosting the meeting.

Guest speaker, Clarissa Snapp, was introduced. Clarissa works for the Indiana Department of Education as the director of both the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy and the Indiana Bullying Prevention Initiative. Clarissa and David Woodward, program coordinator, explained the new bullying prevention legislation, the training that is available, resources, and background information for understanding bullying.

Jill Miels, chair of the Department of Elementary Education, facilitated a discussion of the future professional development needs of in-service teachers. Institute participants drafted suggestions on possibilities of the purpose, format, and content of future professional development offerings.

Karen Dowling announced that the 2005 and 2006 Teachers of the Year will be in Muncie on Wednesday, December 7, participating in her EDSEC 380/EDJHM 385 classes at Wilson and Southside. All educators are invited to a reception at the Muncie Children's Museum from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. for food, networking, and educational conversation.

Nancy Melser is conducting a study of the role of the PDS liaison. She asked the representatives from the PDSs to complete a survey to assist with her research.

Ball State's Shared Information Services Center is a lending library that will loan P-12 educational materials to any adult residents of Indiana free of charge. Kim Petty, coordinator of the center, described the services and resources available. She invited participants to browse through the many materials she had on display.

During the last 45 minutes, participants were encouraged to select one of the following tabletop discussions: