Preparing Future Educators through Classroom Experiences
A Professional Development Schools (PDS) is a collaboratively planned and implemented partnership for the academic and clinical preparation of teacher candidates and the continuous professional development of both school system and higher education faculty.
What are Professional Development Schools?
PDS schools place student interns in their classrooms. Student interns are typically from a teacher education program at a partnering local Maryland College or University. A PDS placement enhances an intern’s real-world experience, while providing the PDS school with a high-quality intern to help promote student achievement.
Professional Development Schools Program (PDSP) Mission
The mission of the PDSP in Howard County is to employ the collaborative resources of PK/RECC-12 and higher education to:
- Promote the achievement of rigorous standards by all students.
- Support high quality academic and clinical training for teacher candidates by providing intensive internship opportunities.
- Provide a powerful mechanism for the simultaneous renewal and professional development of K-12 and higher education faculties.
- Serve as centers for the identification and documentation of best practices in teaching and learning through inquiry, research and reflection.
- Support efforts to achieve the strategic goals of the school system’s strategic plan.
In addition, PDS schools:
- Are selected public schools with which a College or University forms partnerships, creating a community of learners.
- Are dedicated to enhancing the personal and professional growth of all members.
- Promote sharing the latest teacher research and instructional strategies to ensure exemplary teaching for student learning between and among interns, staff and partnering College or University faculty.
- Engage a broad base of stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, support staff, central office staff, parents, students, partnering College or University faculty/staff, interns, community members and business partners to representatively govern and support their endeavors.
- Are guided by the Maryland Standards for Professional Development Schools, which indicate expected performance in the areas of Learning Community, Collaboration, Accountability, Organization, Roles and Resources, and Diversity and Equity.
- Work to support school improvement initiatives in alignment with the HCPSS mission and goals.
- Supports the partnership between Howard Community College (HCC) and HCPSS through the placement of HCC education students.
- Places non-PDS students in the related arts and other areas (such as counseling, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, etc.).
View current College and University Partnerships →
Placement Information
All internships and field placements are made through the Office of Teacher and Paraprofessional Development. This includes everything from early field experiences that are a few hours in duration to full-time student teaching placements and school counseling internships.
For more information regarding placement requirements and process, please contact Patty Otero, Coordinator of Comprehensive Teacher Induction and Paraprofessional Development.
Contact Information
Patty Otero, Coordinator, Teacher and Paraprofessional Development