Professional Development School (PDS) Partnerships

The Cambridge Public Schools and Lesley University PDS Partnership

This partnership began in 1992 with the goal of bringing together public schools and a private university to share ideas, techniques, and strategies for teaching and learning in order to create an educationally rich environment for students, faculty, and student teachers. Today, Lesley University, the Baldwin School and the Peabody School work together as a community of learners to:

• Strengthen connections between educational theory and practice
• Encourage sharing and open communication
• Provide mentors for aspiring teachers
• Support learning at all levels and for all participants
• Promote educational reform, consistent with national, state and local standards

This rich learning environment benefits children, who receive additional support from student teachers and year-long interns, with more opportunities for small group and one-to-one interactions. This model provides a greater variety of quality learning activities that in turn strengthen the larger learning environment.

A Place Where Educators Learn and Everyone Benefits

A professional development school (PDS) is a place for learning and inquiry for teachers and those who will become teachers. In the Cambridge School/Lesley University partnerships, administrators, university faculty, principals, school faculty, Lesley interns and student teachers join together to generate ideas for effective teaching from the multiple perspectives they bring. Experienced teachers and university faculty in a PDS have the opportunity to stay at the forefront of their craft, to strengthen links between theory and practice, and to reflect with their professional colleagues. Student teachers in a PDS can observe a repertoire of ways to approach teaching across the curriculum, and they receive support within the school community. University faculty members are able to play a more active role in the training and growth of student teachers because they are on-site at the school.

A Sampler of PDS Activities

• Lesley seminars and courses are offered on-site in schools.
• Student teachers interact with families and attend parent conferences, school performances and other school-family events.
• Students participate in the Literacy Collaborative Model activities for K-2 and 3-5.
• Students facilitate tutorial activities at after school homework centers.
• Lesley and school faculty share their expertise with the school and collaborate in school site council and other committees.
• A "rounds" model of professional development enables groups of students to observe and reflect current teaching practices.
• Placing clusters of student teachers and interns at the same school fosters an atmosphere of collegiality.
• Mini-conferences, book groups, and joint presentations at state-wide conferences allow teachers to network, share their experience, and receive input from colleagues on educational issues
• Cambridge Public School faculty teach or guest lecture in Lesley courses
• School staff have Lesley library privileges.
• Supervising teachers receive vouchers for Lesley courses.

Lesley University Professional Development Schools

Baldwin School
28 Sacramento St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Principal: Nicholas Leonardos 617.349.6525
Lesley University Liaison: Barbara Govendo 617.349.8154

The Baldwin School's year-long intern program supports student teacher growth with ongoing seminars and immersion in the school community.

Peabody School
70 Rindge Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
Principal: Jennifer Ford 617.349.6530
Lesley University Liaison: Harriet Deane 617.349.8397

Lesley students in all stages of field placement attend Peabody's school-based seminars, in which specialists and classroom teachers discuss their roles and teaching practices.

For more information about the Cambridge Public School and Lesley University PDS Partnership, contact Dr. Marcia Bromfield, Director of Field Placement and Professional Partnerships, 617.349.8396.

To learn more about our professional development and partnership school activities, read Partnership Update [pdf] or request our Division of Field Placement and Professional Partnerships Newsletter from Kali Small.

PDS Articles

"One University, Many Partners" [pdf], written by Lesley and Cambridge Public Schools Department faculty and staff on page 7 of the National Association of Professional Development Schools PDS Partners newsletter, January 2008.

"Enhancing Communication Through Multiple Governance Structures" [pdf], written by Lesley and Cambridge Public Schools Department faculty and staff on page 7 of the National Association of Professional Development Schools PDS Partners newsletter, January 2009.