Partnerships
 

College of Education

West Chester University

302 Recitation Hall
West Chester, PA 19383
Call: (610) 436-2321
Fax : (610) 436-3102
Email: kcrouse@wcupa.edu



Partnerships

Partnerships between the College of Education and K–12 schools, community agencies, and businesses have a common purpose: To improve the quality of education and development of students in our region. Our partnerships are effective and sustainable because they are

  • Developed out of long–term working relationships
  • Based on mutually beneficial goals
  • Implemented through shared responsibility


Links to Current Partnerships


Partnerships

Collaboration to Meet the Needs of the Community (CMNC)

Through collaboration with Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center (SPARC), the project director (Corinne Murphy) and students from WCU are developing one of SPARC’s Tier II services, respite care. Dr. Murphy trains WCU student volunteers in respite care skills and subsequent volunteer opportunities to provide respite care to families of children with autism in the Chester County area. Students attend a two–day workshop on autism and behavior management. Following the training and continuing to the end of the semester, students provide free respite services to families on a weekly basis. In total, student benefits may include up to 45 hours of community service and up to 25 hours of behavioral–based, autism–specific training. Students participating in this opportunity fulfill their community service requirement of 20 hours and receive an additional 18 hours of behavioral–based, autism–specific training. Parents participating in this program receive a minimum of 20 hours of free respite care for their child with autism, with a possible maximum of 45 hours of care.


Embracing Diversity Through World Language: A Cooperative Endeavor in Teaching and Learning

Teacher education students in the Department of Elementary Education, international students in various majors and teacher candidates studying in the MATESOL Program at WCU work in pairs to design lessons about world cultures and global geography through examination of world languages. Students teach their social studies lessons to children in the YWCA after–school program. Lessons incorporate dual language books to introduce language diversity. University international students serve as guest speakers, and experts on their native countries and languages. Teacher education students serve as guest teachers to children in the after school program. All participants are involved in learning about world languages, world cultures and global geography at the planning, teaching and learning levels. As a final component of the project, YWCA children create their own dual language books which are compiled as an anthology. University students’ work is shared electronically for teachers and multilingual families to use through a partnership with Language Lizard. Participants are encouraged to share their work at university conferences.


Exploring the Influence of Philadelphia Writing Project Sponsored Professional Development on Writing Instruction and Disposition Toward Writing

Exploring the Influence of Philadelphia Writing Project Sponsored Professional Development on Writing Instruction and Disposition Toward Writing is a local site research initiative funded by the National Writing Project (NWP). This initiative supports research that is locally defined and locally responsive while adding to national knowledge about the impact of writing project practices on student performance in writing. Dr. Diane Santori, Assistant Professor of Literacy, is research coordinator and primary researcher for the Philadelphia Writing Project initiative. The National Writing Project is a professional development network that serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subject areas. Philadelphia’s Writing Project is designed to enhance the teaching of writing as a critical tool for learning in all Philadelphia schools.


Greater Philadelphia P–16 Council

The College of Education is the lead institution in the Greater Philadelphia P–16 Council, which is chaired by COE Dean, Joseph Malak. As part of this partnership, WCU faculty and students are working to improve education and the quality of teaching through a variety of activities. WCU faculty and district staffs team teach graduate–level literacy and mathematics courses for school district personnel.


K Center

A University/School Partnership between the Upper Darby Kindergarten Center and the Department of Elementary Education. Through this partnership, WCU teacher candidates are provided with a rich field placement and an opportunity to explore the relationship between academic standards, curriculum, and assessment, all while working with an extremely diverse population of kindergartners.


Peirce Middle School

Students in Dr. Cynthia Haggard’s EDS 306 section of Teaching Principles and Field Experience observe at Peirce Middle School. The capstone experience is a team taught lesson to the middle school students, observed by the classroom teacher and Dr. Haggard. EDS 306 students also volunteer for an after school homework help club which is run by one of the guidance counselors. Every semester the building administrators present a workshop to the undergraduate students on what they look for when they hire new teachers. Several students have gone on to student teach at Peirce and many find that teaching at the middle level might be their calling. This partnership between the College of Education and Peirce Middle School of West Chester Area School District was formed through a Heinz Planning Grant and has been sustained through the efforts of University and School district leadership.


Philadelphia Urban Seminar

The two–week seminar offers students in Special Education the opportunity for practical hands on experience in inner–city classrooms with communities whose culture and race may be different than their own. The Urban Seminar experience meets the requirements for EDA 302, Field Experience, and Seminar: High Incidence Disability. The students live in dormitories at La Salle University throughout their experience and attend school each day at an assigned placement with the district. Our students participate in community service projects where they interact with students, parents, and community leaders. They also attend professional development seminars conducted by Philadelphia teachers.

Student Experiences in the Special Education Program

Project T.E.A.C.H.

The Early Childhood Education program offers bachelor’s and master’s degree completion programs in Philadelphia and at WCU. Dr. Catherine Prudhoe is Coordinator of the program. Our partner is T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ® PENNSYLVANIA. Students enrolled in the programs receive scholarships for tuition and textbooks.


Reading Courses at Twin Valley

The West Chester University Department of Literacy partners with Twin Valley School District to offer graduate courses in reading onsite. School district personnel can earn graduate credit by taking initial courses in the reading specialist program.


The Kennett Experience

Undergraduate elementary majors take EDR 312 (Reading Practicum and Instruction) during the fall semester. During the spring semester, they student–teach with the same cooperating teacher they had for the fall reading practicum course. Hallmarks of the Kennett Experience include: candidates working in a rich and diverse school setting; candidates spending approximately 45 additional hours beyond the usual requirements in the fall semester (three extra hours per week) in the field working directly with teachers and children; candidates working with cooperating master teachers during the summer to set up the classroom before the school year begins, attending back to school night, and attending parent teacher conferences; and candidates taking on a full teaching load earlier than usual and for longer than usual during student teaching. Each Kennett Experience candidate is issued a Mac Book laptop computer and trained in its use. Candidates used the laptops to research for teaching ideas, to videotape lessons and analyze and reflect on their teaching, to communicate, and for various other classroom related activities. Overall the students who engage in this special partnership have a stronger and richer year–long field experience. The Kennett Experience is a University/School partnership between West Chester University and the Kennett Consolidated School District. The goal of the partnership is to better prepare WCU undergraduate elementary education students for their teaching careers.


The 3E Institute

The 3E Institute (Educational Excellence and Entrepreneurship) offers opportunities for teachers to become entrepreneurs – risk taking, innovative educators. The Institute administers externships for K–12 educators with businesses, industries, and community agencies. In collaboration with 3E, West Chester University offers an 18–credit graduate certificate in Entrepreneurial Education. The certificate may be used as a focus of inquiry toward a master’s degree. Each year the 3E Institute recognizes educators who have the vision and courage to be change agents of education. To learn more about the graduate certificate in Entrepreneurial Education at West Chester University, please visit the College of Education website.


Valley Forge Educational Services Conferences & Training Division Partnership

West Chester University's College of Education and Department of Special Education has partnered with Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) Conferences & Training Division to raise the awareness of high school and university faculty's instructional practices when working with students with disabilities. The WCU Department of Special Education, led by Associate Professor Donna Wandry, and VFES, led by Director of Conferences & Training, Maria Kreiter, are engaging in ongoing work with local secondary schools to support understanding and implementation of the Summary of Academic and Functional Performance (SAAFP).  This document is required by federal law and serves as a transition tool for students leaving school and entering college.  The ultimate goal is to support the cadre of educators who serve local secondary students with disabilities, many of whom choose to attend West Chester University.  When educators provide appropriate and useful information regarding student strengths and support needs in the summary document, higher education institutions gain a better understanding of adequate levels of support for incoming students.


Writing Zones 12.5

West Chester University students help bridge the gap between high school and college writing by providing students of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds with college tutor–mentors. Currently tutors work with B. Reed Henderson High School and east High School in the West Chester Area School District. Please visit http://www.wcupa.edu/writingzones/ for more information.