The PDSLs are part of the Clinical Practice Network, organized and managed by Ball State Teachers College’s Office of Teacher Education Services and Clinical Practice (OTES). PDSLs are Ball State faculty who are partnered with an MCS school to aid in the professional development of the school’s educators. These scholars combine cutting-edge research and theory with real-world, practical solutions to meet the needs of MSC’s educators. The PDSLs provide training, lead workshops, collaborate with field experiences for student teachers, and lead school-based research tied to school improvement documents. Current PDSLs include:
- East Washington Academy: Scott Dueker, assistant professor of Applied Behavior Analysis, Special Education
- Longfellow Elementary School: Youn Hong, assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary Education
- Northside Middle School: Susanna Benko, director of English Education and associate professor of English; Andrew Gatza, assistant professor of Mathematical Sciences
- Southside Middle School: Susanna Benko, director of English Education and associate professor of English; Andrew Gatza, assistant professor of Mathematical Sciences
- South View Elementary School: Kathryn Fletcher, professor of Psychology, Educational Psychology
- Central Office, Special Education Services: Janay Sander, professor of Educational Psychology
Breakfast Club
Susanna Benko, a Professional Development School Liaison (PDSL) at Muncie Central and Northside and Southside Middle Schools, used her time at the schools to mentor English teachers on increasing their students reading comprehension. They met monthly for a school year in a resource room at Southside Middle School an hour before school started and during the first period of the day. With a colorful display of glazed donuts greeting teachers as they entered the room, they dubbed their meeting the “Breakfast Club.”
Dr. Benko led the lively group of teachers in constructive exercises and group discussions about the reasons for students’ reading comprehension difficulties, leading to insights and connections about how to focus on the students as individuals and highlight the skills and interests they currently have. These practical discussions revealed the teachers’ strong desire to see their students be a success and achieve their potential.
The monthly Breakfast Club meetings end with 50 minutes of constructive time for the teachers to develop their strategies and lessons for engaging students, because as Dr. Benko says, “Time is what teachers need more than anything.”
Read more about the professional development liaison program in this article by The Ball State Daily News.