NDMU’s Award-Winning PDS Program Wraps Up Successful 2022-23 Academic Year

Belvedere Elementary School
Liaison – Dr. Lisa Pallett, Associate Professor
Site Coordinator – Kelly Henderson, Teacher at Belvedere

Belvedere hosted five successful teacher candidates this academic year, and two were asked to serve as long-term substitute teachers. Interns were provided with support throughout their internship on topics ranging from how to successfully complete their Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), classroom management, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Through the partnership, NDMU supported the school’s PBIS initiatives by contributing materials for the program.

Broadneck High School
Liaison: Dr. Kristine Larson, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator: Meghan Welsh, Teacher at Broadneck

The partnership was expanded this year through formal events, social gatherings, and flourishing integration. Coordinating council members hosted quarterly PDS partnership breakfasts to thank teachers for the work they do and recruit them to be teacher mentors, adjuncts, and graduate students at NDMU. These events increased NDMU’s visibility at Broadneck.

The integration of flourishing/comprehensive wellbeing also continued. Dr. Kristine Larson was invited by a BHS teacher, Tara Segree, to co-teach a lesson on integrating flourishing into English content using The Bean Trees, a book by Barbara Kingsolver. Dr. Larson traveled to the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) conference in Jacksonville, Florida, in March to present on this work and to share about this innovative approach towards integrating and promoting flourishing in high schools.

The partnership additionally welcomed DJ Hunt as the newest advisor for the Student Alliance for Flourishing (SAFF) initiative. The SAFF, which has been in place for three years, seeks to promote individual and community flourishing. This year, Mr. Hunt advised an all-male group of around 10 students to support the mental and emotional health of young men at BHS. Lastly, teachers met for a social gathering at Smashing Grapes in February and April to discuss wellbeing using Jeffrey Rubin’s book, The Art of Flourishing, as a talking piece.

John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School
Liaison – Dr. Patty Silver, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Lauren Watson, Vice Principal at John Ruhrah

The John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School partnership hosted three interns this year and hired one.  Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) diversity goals associated with NDMU’s Maryland Emergency Education Relief (MEER) grant were met through providing a multitude of STEAM professional development throughout the year, including modules on computational thinking, coding, circuitry, and 3D design led by NDMU professors. All teachers were provided with a new MacBook as part of the grant work, along with NDMU professor trainings in MacBook use, Blended Learning, and Incorporating Vocabulary for English Language Learners in Content Classes. The site coordinator and liaison presented their work with the grant at the National PDS Conference in Florida, and will begin work on a journal publication about the successful implementation of the MEER grant at John Ruhrah.

The partnership also started work with an additional grant – the NDMU Elevates program – which will provide teaching certification through an apprenticeship program for eight paraeducators who work at the school. Accompanied by School of Education leadership, the partnership supported these eight paraeducators in a visit to Notre Dame’s campus where they each received a tour, mini-trainings, an orientation, and a motivational visit from NDMU President Dr. Marylou Yam.

Medfield Heights Elementary School
Liaison – Dr. Lisa Pallett, Associate Professor
Site Coordinator – Stephanie Jones, Teacher at Medfield

NDMU is beginning a partnership to support teachers at Medfield Heights in integrating computer science into the curriculum. Dr. Lisa Pallett is working with the leadership team at the school to introduce them to Scratch, a coding program for young students, and provide support to teachers as they integrate this tool into their instruction.

Western High School
Liaison – Dr. Stephanie Savick, Associate Professor
Site Coordinator – Leah Prandi-Abrams, Teacher at Western

One intern successfully completed his internship at Western this year. The intern was welcomed to the school and integrated with the faculty immediately upon his arrival. He was supported through weekly chew-and-chat sessions organized by the site coordinator, and he was provided with Western swag upon the successful completion of his internship. The partnership offered a professional podcast study on Angela Watson’s, 40-Hour Teacher Work Week. Approximately seven teachers participated in the study during the spring semester. They engaged with organizational strategies related to working smarter, not harder, in the teaching profession, as participants discussed how 40 hours could easily turn into 80 hours each week.

Hillcrest Elementary School
Liaison – Dr. Patty Silver, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Dianne Tirocchi, Teacher at Hillcrest

Hillcrest Elementary hosted three student interns this year. Monthly chew and chat sessions provided them with ongoing support and an opportunity to discuss areas of need. Interns also participated in monthly grade level meetings that provided them with valuable professional growth opportunities. All interns successfully completed their edTPA.

Johnnycake Elementary School
Liaison – Dr. Renee Garraway, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Jolene Antioli, Teacher at Johnnycake

Johnnycake Elementary hosted three student interns this year in grades 2, 3, and special education. Student interns participated in all grade level meetings and professional development sessions at the school. Grade level planning sessions allowed them to explore topics related to curriculum and interpretation of school data. The student interns completed exit interviews that indicated their overall positive experiences at the school. The school’s focus on mathematical discourse enhanced their understanding of strategies to meet the needs of a culturally and linguistically diverse student population. Dr. Lisa Pallett, associate professor in the School of Education, provided a professional development session to faculty aligned with the school’s math progress goals.

Kenwood High School
Liaison – Dr. Kevin Ensor, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Mary Ellen Sittner, Teacher at Kenwood

The liaison and site coordinator, in conjunction with Principal Brian Powell, discussed faculty needs assessment results from the 2021-22 academic year and determined that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) was a needed area of improvement for faculty at the school. To address this need through the PDS partnership, the NDMU faculty liaison and site coordinator offered a book study for all interested faculty members. The book chosen for the study was, Teach, Breathe, Learn: Using Mindfulness Strategies In and Out of the Classroom. Participants maintained a mindfulness journal throughout the study, and created an action plan to incorporate mindfulness into their daily teaching. The PDS partnership plans to expand SEL professional development opportunities into next year while pursuing research and grant opportunities to provide more funding for SEL initiatives.

Lansdowne Elementary School
Liaison – Dr. Joanna Newton, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – MacKenzie Borgmann, Teacher at Lansdowne

Three interns successfully completed their internships at Lansdowne this year, and one intern assumed a long-term substitute position in his mentor’s classroom while she was on maternity leave. The coordinating council offered two professional development opportunities for K-5 teachers on phonics and word study instruction. Fourteen teachers, including classroom teachers, special education and ESOL teachers, and long-term substitutes, participated in an after-school professional development workshop co-facilitated by Dr. Newton and Lansdowne’s Literacy Specialist. A follow-up session was offered one month later for teachers to reflect on lesson implementation and determine next instructional steps. Dr. Newton presented a roundtable discussion at the National PDS Conference in March in which she shared how the partnership’s efforts to prioritize relationship building have supported the creation of a collaborative culture.

Stemmers Run Middle School
Liaison – Dr. Kevin Ensor, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Jen Miller, Teacher at Stemmers Run

Social-Emotional Learning and academic motivation were identified as primary professional development focus areas based on teacher needs assessment data from Stemmers. Dr. Kevin Ensor conducted a well-attended after-school professional development session, “Fostering Academic Success and Social-emotional Mindsets,” for interested teachers. After the presentation, participants discussed techniques and strategies that could help students improve their academic mindsets. Participants expressed an interest in attending more professional development sessions that dove deeper into methods used to integrate mindfulness techniques, and incorporated strategies that could foster more positive mindsets into the academic curricula. The partnership plans to offer follow-up sessions in the next academic year.

Woodlawn High School
Liaison – Dr. Stephanie Savick, Associate Professor
Site Coordinator – Corrie Hamlett, Teacher at Woodlawn

Five interns successfully completed their internships at Woodlawn this year. The coordinating council continued their tradition of offering semester-long chew and chat sessions for the interns, who were able to engage with administrators, counselors, the school psychologist, the PBIS Coordinator, and the equity team among others. These sessions allowed interns to get to know important faculty and staff members outside of their mentors’ classrooms and feel a greater connection to the entire school. The partnership offered a four-part professional development opportunity focused on the application of ESOL strategies in general education classrooms. The professional learning experience was hosted by Woodlawn’s ESOL teacher, Rebecca Thornton, a former graduate of Notre Dame’s teacher education program. The seven teachers who participated in the book study received learning stipends from Baltimore County Public Schools and presented their work at the end-of-year faculty meeting.

Church Creek Elementary School
Liaison – Rosemary Poling, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Lauren McHugh, Reading Specialist at Church Creek

Church Creek welcomed five interns this year, who were placed with talented mentor teachers in Special Education, Kindergarten, and 1st-4th grades. During each placement, interns participated in team, content, and faculty meetings as well as professional development opportunities offered by CCES and Harford County Public Schools. A book study on the science of reading was conducted by the site coordinator for teachers and interns. All interns were a positive presence among mentors, faculty, and administration. One intern took a long-term substitute position at Church Creek, and another joined a neighboring school in Harford County. Two interns were offered open contracts in HCPS, with one accepting a position at Church Creek for the 2023-24 school year.

Clemens Crossing Elementary School
Liaison – Dr. Angelo Letizia, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Michelle Alban, Teacher at Clemens Crossing

Five interns successfully completed their internship experience at Clemens Crossing this year. Two of these interns accepted positions in HCPS for 2023-24. In December, the partnership hosted a professional development session for interested teachers on Restorative Justice Practices in Elementary Schools. A professional development library was also created, with a focus on trauma informed instructional resources. The goal moving forward is to add new titles to the library each year. The liaison presented a session on this topic at the annual National PDS Conference in March.     

Long Reach High School
Liaison – Dr. Angelo Letizia, Assistant Professor
Site Coordinator – Kathleen Jones, Teacher at Long Reach

Two interns successfully completed their internship experience at Long Reach this year. A professional development library was created with titles focusing on ESOL strategies for general education classrooms. The goal moving forward will be to identify titles of interest to faculty each year.