PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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132 Thomas St.
Cranford, NJ 07016
(908)-272-9100



What is a PDS?

     A Professional Development School is a partnership between a school and an institution of higher learning. As stated by Dr. Emalene Renna, Superintendent of Cranford Public Schools when the Cranford-Seton Hall partnership began, "The involvement of Cranford Public Schools and Seton Hall University commits us to training, assisting, and nurturing current and future teachers to be skilled professionals who successfully translate theory into practice to guide children to high levels of learning."

     Professional Development Schools do more than train university teacher candidates; they are collaborations to provide exemplary educational settings, consistent vision, and ongoing active cooperation of all participants in the partnership. Major organizations agree that professional development schools must accomplish four basic goals. Although the wording used varies, they concur that such schools all must:

    • Provide a clinical setting for pre-service education
    • Engage in professional development for participants
    • Promote and conduct inquiry that advances knowledge of schooling
    • Provide an exemplary education for students from pre-K through college

     In a PDS, the university faculty and administration and the school staff and administration become a community that shares mutual responsibility for providing high-quality instruction to classroom students.


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