Spring PDS Institute Meeting
April 17, 2008
IndianaChildren's Museum

Attendance:  Linda Gibson, Larry Quarles, Mark Finger, Aaron Ayres, Cami Zenthoefer, Kimber Conner, Jennifer Cline, Debbie Collins, Emery Peck, Cynthia Whitehair, Michael Garringer, Chris Landon, Julie Gayes, Amy Myers, Kathy Olssen, Cindy Senseman, Carrie Bale, Cheryl Rich, Jeanette Booth, Cindy Iavagnilio, Jackie Samuels, Chris Smith, Lynn Engle, Vicki Marcus, Tim Phares, Eric Valentine, Jeff Kieffer, Mary Ann Thiery, Ingrid Grubb, Ermalene Faulkner, Cynthia Marquell, Tracy Shafer, Sherri Dyer, Misty Barton, Tammy Cargile, Lesley Schaeffer, Susan Johnson, Laurie Mullen, Lynette Varner, Karen Dowling, Cathy Siebert, Bonnie Turner, Linda Taylor, Diane Bottomley, Lynn Staley, Nancy Melser, Joyce Jamerson, Peggy Lewis, Kristien Marquez-Zenkov.

Absent with regrets:  Dean Roy Weaver, Dr. Jayne Beilke, Paula Morris, Roy Connor, Ron Purtlebaugh, Sue Atherton, Pat Moore

1. Keynote Address
   
   Peggy Lewis, Director of BSU Schools Network, introduced Dr. Kristien Marquez-Zenkov, Associate Professor of Literacy at Cleveland State University and member of Board of Directors, NAPDS. 
   
   Kristien presented his program "Through Student Eyes" which demonstrated the power of using images to motivate student expression through writing.  The need that students have to connect with caring adults is clearly visible in the results of this project.  After taking numerous photos, students reflect on three specific questions:  (a) What is the purpose of school? (b) What supports your success in school?  (c) What things get in the way of your school success? Listening to the stories of these urban students, many, if not all, of our participants were both inspired and motivated.  Plans to use ideas from this project were already being made by several of those attending.
   
   (Kristien's presentation is available for downloading in Keynote.  Contact Peggy Lewis)
   
   
2. Comments from Dean Weaver
   
   Laurie Mullen shared comments from Dean Roy Weaver who was unable to attend the meeting. He sent a message to express how much he has valued the PDS relationships for so many years.  He commented, "The fact that the network has been nationally recognized as one of the largest and best is a tribute to all those who have worked in the network and those who continue to provide leadership. And who could ever place a value on the development of each student who has had the privilege to have been in a PDS school. Sustaining relationships as we have is unusual and to be celebrated. Please know though I am far away that there is an intense sense of joy and satisfaction that I feel today and hope that you do as well.  Thanks to everyone for all you have done. Words cannot express my appreciation."
   
   
3. BSU at NAPDS
   
   Twelve individuals from BSU and partnership schools presented in 7 different sessions at the annual NAPDS conference.  It was noted that other universities had up to 37 sessions at the conference.  Peggy Lewis encouraged the group to plan to submit conference proposals for the next NAPDS conference, March 12-15 at Daytona Beach, Florida.
    
   

   Strands	People
   Individual Roles-1 Common Understandings-1 Governance and Communication-1 Classroom Practices-3 Achievements-1	Jill Miels Linda Taylor Lynette Varner Cathy Siebert Barb Lumbis Carol Hill Peggy Lewis Diane Bottomley Peggy Rice Mary Hendricks Kristen Mains Ron Purtlebaugh

4. Introduction of work session
   
   Peggy Lewis reminded the group that at the end of the Fall Institute, teams were encouraged to consider what the next steps would be to strengthen their PDS partnership.  At the annual NAPDS conference, the Nine Essential Elements for What it Means to be a Professional Development School were introduced.  These essential characteristics would seem to help us define those next steps.  Peggy offered these for consideration to the group and encouraged teams to work on goals based on the NCATE standards, but to keep the Nine Essentials in mind as they work. 
   
   For a complete version of the policy statement paper, go to http://napds.org/9 Essentials/NAPDS_9_Essentials_Statement.pdf
   
   Drawing on Kristien's project, four questions were posed for groups to use in developing their goals:
   1. What is the purpose of your goal?
   2. What supports your success in reaching this goal?
   3. What things get in the way of you reaching this goal?
   4. Who will benefit from you reaching this goal?
      
      
5. Announcements
   
   
   1. MAC—Cathy Siebert described this project to train mentors for new teachers.  The first group, which begins work this summer, will complete the training and be certified and prepared to mentor new teachers beginning in January 2009.  A second group will begin in the fall.  Contact Cathy at cjsiebert@bsu.edu for more information. 
       
   2. MyVisit—Lynette Varner presented information about the work BSU has been doing with Simon and Schuster and Booksource to bring authors into classrooms across the country through broadcasts and virtual conferences.  She explained how our PDS schools have been involved with the two authors to date:  Andrew Clements and DJ MacHale.  She encouraged anyone interested to check out the Web site http://www.bsu.edu/myvisit.
       
   3. NAPDS Award—Cathy Siebert briefly discussed the new NAPDS Award for Exemplary Professional Development School Achievement.  Noting that the selection criteria is based on the Nine Essentials, Cathy commented that we might not be ready to submit our name this next year, but we should definitely consider it within the near future.
      
      
6. Recognition
   
   Several individuals and groups were recognized for their PDS contributions and efforts:
   
   
   1. Joyce Jamerson—First-year liaison (Commended for her excellent work at Wes-Del Elementary and starting during the term of a new PDS director)
       
   2. Tim Phares—First-year PDS principal at Orchard Park Elementary
       
   3. CUMNS Kids, Forest Dale Elementary, Huffer Memorial Children's Center—Site Reviews (Specifically thanked for their flexibility and patience as we piloted a new format for self-evaluation as a review process)
       
   4. Phil Nikirk—retiring principal, Anderson High School
       
   5. Dale Basham—leaving Muncie Southside
       
   6. Pat Moore—retiring liaison, Muncie Central
       
   7. Washington-Carver Elementary—closing as a Muncie school
       
   8. Chris Landon—retiring director, CUMNS Kids
       
   9. Peggy Lewis—first-year PDS Director
      
      
7. Celebration—PDS Banners
   
   Recognizing the commitment of the PDS Network in the past and honoring the work that has been done to make this network recognized nationally, Peggy Lewis and Laurie Mullen presented each partnership with a banner to proclaim a continued commitment to student learning and to our profession.  The banner marks the 10th anniversary of the BSU PDS Network.  Thanks to Dale Basham for a good idea to both celebrate and publicly announce our partnerships!   A special thanks to Dean Weaver for his support in making the celebration possible.
    
8. Closing
   
   
   1. Annual reports for this academic year should be completed and sent to plewis2@bsu.edu.  Electronic submissions are preferred.  Reports should include a narrative that speaks to each of the four areas that were used for goal setting this year:  Teacher Preparation, Staff Development, Research, and Student Learning.  Artifacts that support statements can be referred to within the text.  It was decided that the demographic material from previous years would not need to be included.
       
   2. Annual reports in the future, as the goals for the next academic year (2008-2009), will be written to address the NCATE PDS standards.  The annual report will then be completed in the form of a rubric and become part of the site's self-evaluation.
       
   3. The Fall PDS Institute will focus on the Nine Essential Elements for What It Means to be a PDS.
         
   4. Peggy Lewis closed the meeting by thanking everyone for their PDS efforts and the support they have given her through the year.