April 29, 2003
Ball State University
Professional Development Schools Network
Institute for Community Education Development and School Improvement
Meeting #14
April 29, 2003
9:00-2:00
Minnetrista Cultural Center/Oakhurst Gardens
Summary
Dean Weaver opened the meeting with a welcome to all members and guests. He thanked everyone for their assistance with the NCATE report and visit.
Ruth Swetnam welcomed the guests, including Dr. Susan Tucker, the evaluator for the Title II grant. Recognition was given to Chris Landon, awarded Outstanding Hoosier Educator from Indiana Association of Educators of Young Children, 2002; Judy Miller, awarded Outstanding Educator from Indiana Association of Educators of Young Children, 2003; Patty Hughes and Susan Johnson featured in the 14th edition of "BeneFacta" magazine for their work with Urban Semester; Ann Leitze, Melissa Mitchell, Nancy Melser, and Carol Godsoe, recipients of the 2002 School Science and Mathematics Association Award for Excellence in Integrating Science and Mathematics; and Mike Wolter, math and science teacher at Muncie Central High School, awarded a RadioShack National Teacher Award.
Tracy Shafer, representing the Network Executive Committee, recommended approval of the PDS proposals from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Towne Meadow Elementary School, and Shortridge Middle School. The Institute representatives voted to recommend these new members to the PDS Governing Board. Burris School, Southside High School, and Apple Tree Child Development Center will continue as planning partners.
Ruth expressed appreciation to students Paul Butler and Deborah Cantrell for their assistance with the meeting. This was followed by announcements. The Innovative Education Grant Program is available again to Teachers College graduates. A work session to review PDS documents is scheduled for June 5 with a stipend of $150 per participant. Melinda Schoenfeldt described the Learning Assessment Model (LAM) summer training workshop, which is June 23 for elementary educators and June 24 for secondary.
Appreciation was expressed to participants in this year's site reviews. Each PDS site that did not host an on-site review during this year is to electronically submit a summary review for 2002-2003 by June 1. Instructions for this review were distributed. Next year, site reviews will be scheduled for St. Mary, Morrison-Mock, Carmel secondary schools, and Washington-Carver.
Ruth explained that the evaluations of the past Institute meetings have included requests to allow more time for members to share what they have been doing in their individual PDS sites. The format for this meeting has been designed to encourage conversations and reflection on accomplishments, challenges, and writing for publication.
Patty Hughes, director of the Office of Educational Field Experiences, talked about the Student Teacher Evaluation instrument and the training workshops that have been offered during the past four summers and will be available this summer. This was followed by roundtable discussions on how the rubric training has changed participants' perceptions of how to supervise student teachers, and how we can encourage placement of student teachers with teachers who have had the training.
David Dixon, chair of Department of Educational Studies, described the supervision seminars that have been available and charged the groups to discuss how the supervision class changed the experience of supervision, and how this class "impacted" the PDSs.
Larry Smith, chair of Department of Elementary Education, reviewed the initial opportunities to design action research projects supported by a grant from Educate Indiana and Title II. Those who have been involved in research were to share responses to the following questions. How did you identify your topic and develop your questions? How did you gather and analyze the data? How has research impacted your professional practice?
Susan Johnson, associate dean of College of Sciences and Humanities, described the elementary workshops, "Good Science, Good Writing." Kristi Nacrelli, Mike Sheffield, Cynthia Marquell, and Kathleen Roberts gave examples of how they had applied what they had learned.
Title II has sponsored the attendance of teams from PDSs to attend the annual conference of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC). Jackie Stillisano, Title II Project Manager, described the process that has been used to encourage follow-up activities at each site. Planning grants of up to $1,000 were awarded teams this spring, and implementation grants will be available for 2003-2004. Jackie asked the people at each table who had attended NSDC to share what has happened in their PDS as a result of school teams attending this conference.
Jeanette Booth invited teachers to consider the Educator Summer Institute that is sponsored by the Indianapolis Children's Museum. This is available for university credit or non-credit. Ivy Disher promoted the coming attraction to Minnetrista Cultural Center/Oakhurst Gardens, "A T. rex Named Sue."
Box lunches were served during the noon hour. Following lunch, Barbara Graham introduced the challenges for PDSs that are outlined in the book, Like Stone Soup, by Peter C. Murrell, Jr. She asked participants to discuss the following ideas. How do the structures of the PDS encourage participants to work for social change? How do the structures of PDS encourage efforts to attract members of minorities to the profession?
David Dixon and Jim Powell worked with the secondary educators, and Diane Bottomley, Pat Clark, Linda Martin, and Carolyn Walker worked with the elementary educators on the topic, "Writing for Publication."
The afternoon session was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.