°®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ

03/27/2015 2:59 PM

In late January, °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s College of Education and Health Sciences learned that funding for the °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Professional Development Schools (PDS) Partnership has been renewed for another two-year term. Since 1995, the William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee has generously funded the project, which supports academic and professional development for P-12 students, pre-professionals, practitioners, and professors. Annual PDS projects and initiatives include °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ-PDS classroom partnerships, special events and enrichment opportunities for students, and professional development for practicing and pre- service teachers. In addition, a significant number of °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ teacher education, nursing, family and consumer sciences, psychology, counseling, and educational leadership majors complete clinical experiences and internships at °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ PDS sites each semester. °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s eight PDS sites include Glen Oak Community Learning Center, Harrison Community Learning Center, Manual Academy, Roosevelt Magnet School, St. Mark Catholic School, Trewyn K-8 School, Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Learning Center, and Whittier Primary School. Educational leaders from both Peoria Public Schools and °®¶¹´«Ã½ÊÓƵ highly value this ongoing school-university partnership. Dr. Joan Sattler, Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, said, “I thank the William T. Kemper Foundation and Commerce Bank Trustee for having faith and trust in me and our College leadership of this project over the years.”