CURRENT FEATURES

Partnerships that make a difference

Partnerships that make a difference
School of Education faculty engage with local school divisions and state education leaders on various partnerships. From left, Hanover County Public Schools Superintendent Stewart Roberson, Department of Educational Leadership Associate Professor Kenneth Magill, Department of Educational Leadership Distinguished Professor Bill Bosher, Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Morton, Department of Foundations of Education Chair and Professor James McMillan, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Jewell-Sherman, and Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Billy Cannaday.

When universities and schools work together, knowledge and research are shared, learning improves, and better teachers enter the classroom.

The VCU School of Education has been a leader in this national movement for more than 40 years, forming more than 300 partnership activities just this year with Richmond area schools.

Since the 1960s, partnerships with the School of Education have been
with a single school, a school division or multiple school divisions. Many
of these collaborations have focused on better preparation of teachers,
principals or counselors at both pre-service and in-service levels.

Other partnerships have addressed assisting low performing schools, influencing public policy, improving achievement of K-12 students, and several have specific missions to address issues in the broader community.

“The partnerships we enjoy are numerous and make deep and lasting impacts,” said Hanover County Public Schools Superintendent Stewart D. Roberson. “There is a pervasive spirit which assures we are genuine and willing partners in creating education opportunities to all we serve. This is the spirit to which we enter as partners with VCU.”

“VCU is a partner in every way,” adds Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Jewell-Sherman. “It is a collaboration that continues to be enhanced and we are very grateful for that. Certainly, the School of Education and its faculty have helped support our principals, teachers, and individual schools with specific needs.”

One of the partnerships Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Hanover County, Henrico County, Hopewell, Powhatan County, and Richmond schools speak highly of is with the School of Education’s Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), which conducts research that improves school administration, teaching, and student learning.

Research is conducted by School of Education faculty and Richmond area school representatives. Through seminars, reports, and an annual conference, results of the studies are disseminated to the schools.

“MERC is one of the most unique partnerships I have experienced,” said Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome. “It gives superintendents, administrators, and educators a forum to discuss complex issues facing our schools and make key decisions about our programs and operations.”

Recent MERC studies have investigated teacher retention, teacher grading and assessment practices, and student motivation.

Another close collaboration is the Metropolitan Educational Training Alliance (META) – a partnership among the Chesterfield County Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond Public Schools, the School of Education’s Center for Teacher Leadership, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. Established in 2001, META exists to enhance the professional development and training of teachers, administrators and other educational personnel in the respective school divisions.

Current META projects include: a $5.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase student achievement by developing and retaining more effective teachers; a program intended to help instructional assistants earn a collegiate (K-12) professional license and become special education teachers in one of three areas of special education – emotional disturbance, learning disabilities or mental retardation; and the National Board Certification Candidate Support Program, which provides teachers with structured opportunities to clarify each aspect of the certification process and a network of support as they strive to meet the highest standards established for the profession.

“META is one of the most high-profile partnerships we have in Hanover because of the rewards that flow to the teachers in the school districts at the end of the certification experience,” said superintendent Roberson. “Those who become National Board Certified Teachers are among the most motivated and effective in our field and the nation.”

Many schools have staff serving as affiliate or adjunct faculty in the School of Education. Superintendents of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond schools all teach courses at VCU as affiliate faculty.

“Through this partnership we can interact with VCU faculty about our programs and the daily challenges administrators face,” said Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Fred S. Morton. “That is a great commentary on the university’s efforts to do real outreach that is grounded deeply in the classroom.”

Leadership preparation is another partnership that benefits local schools. Through the Master’s in Educational Leadership and Ph.D. in Education programs, students are prepared to meet the shortage of leadership positions in schools, and students who already hold those positions enhance their abilities as effective school leaders.

Principals, assistant principals, and other administrators in the Doctoral Cohort Program in Educational Leadership attend classes around their work schedules and often in their own communities. The cohort provides an opportunity for students to exchange information with their peers and make professional
connections with VCU faculty.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the doctoral cohort experience,” said Dr. S. Dallas Dance, principal of Brookland Middle School in Richmond and Virginia’s youngest school principal. “The interaction that existed between fellow colleagues was immeasurable. I could take experiences from my building and obtain further best practices from individuals who were in the field with me.”

Principal Dance adds that VCU partnerships have strengthened the relationship between K-12 and higher education because they have given both parties an opportunity to see what goes on at each of the levels, which he said are totally different in many aspects. “The ultimate beneficiary of this relationship is the student who will experience teachers and administrators who are prepared to give them the skills needed to be successful.”

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