#04-115
May 5, 2004

GSW School of Education launches innovative initiative partnering with regional schools

AMERICUS--Georgia Southwestern State University's School of Education is partnering with area school districts to promote professional development and give student teachers new opportunities to hone their skills. 

GSW has been working for months to formalize its new Professional Development School (PDS) network, said Mary Gendernalik Cooper, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education. 

"Professional development schools are learning environments that support student teacher and faculty development within the context of meeting children's needs," Gendernalik Cooper said. "Increasingly, our children are expected to know more at younger ages, and translate information into knowledge at a more rapid pace. Maintaining a strong, professional development framework for our existing K-12 teachers, as well as offering appropriate educational opportunities for our student teachers, remains critical to ensuring success in our schools." 

By agreeing to national Professional Development School standards, and committing to an ongoing partnership with GSW, participating school districts and their individual institutions will benefit from continuing professional development opportunities. Meanwhile, GSW student teachers pursuing their degrees will have structured environments in which to complete their practical experiences. 

"The heart of a PDS network is collaboration," Gendernalik Cooper said. 

After a competitive selection process, 26 schools in the following school districts have been accepted to join GSW's PDS network: Ben Hill County Schools, Crisp County Schools, Houston County Schools, Lee County Schools, Macon County Schools and Sumter County Schools. 

GSW student teachers will begin their field experiences in the new network of schools in Fall 2004. "Fostering professional development among our regional school districts and enhancing learning opportunities for GSW student teachers is of great interest to Georgia Southwestern State University," said GSW President Michael L. Hanes, Ph.D. "I am extremely pleased that Dr. Gendernalik Cooper and the School of Education faculty have initiated this partnership program, and believe that all participants will benefit, beginning with our children in the schools." 

Gendernalik Cooper's philosophy of education emphasizes partnership and the professional development of teachers. 

"Fostering collaboration among school systems, parents, teachers, the University and the community at large is critical to the field of education," she said. 

"Teacher leadership is probably closest to my heart," Gendernalik Cooper added. "We must do more to 'professionalize' teaching. Teachers must assume more leadership positions in schools in order to make better use of their experience and knowledge, and further improve the educational process for students." 

Since her appointment as Dean last year, creating the PDS network has been a priority for Gendernalik Cooper. From 1996 to 2002, she served as a tenured professor of Educational Administration and chair of the Department of Teacher Development at Augusta State University. She was also coordinator of the Central Savannah River Area P-16 Council and director of their nationally recognized PDS network.

PHOTO AVAILABLE

Educational Involvement--Mary Gendernalik Cooper, Ph.D., Dean of the Georgia Southwestern State University School of Education, outlines the new Professional Development School Network for interested representatives from area school districts.

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