Shepherd University’s School of Education received a $14,208 grant from the West Virginia Department of Education to continue working with six Berkeley County schools providing professional development. This is the third year the School of Education has received this grant.
Shepherd will continue the professional development school (PDS) program with Spring Mills Primary, Potomack Intermediate, Opequon Elementary, Marlowe Elementary, Tomahawk Intermediate, and Mill Creek Intermediate. The PDS is a partnership between Shepherd and Berkeley County Schools that helps prepare new teachers, offers faculty training, helps improve classroom practices, and enhances prekindergarten-12 student achievement.
“Shepherd teacher candidates participating in the PDS work alongside a mentor, or cooperating teacher, and receive valuable training to prepare them to teach elementary-age children,” said Dr. Dori Hargrove, assistant professor of education and elementary specialization coordinator. “This provides them hands-on experience in learning how to plan, teach, and assess students. The PDS provides valuable professional development for the mentor teachers, Shepherd faculty, and our teacher candidates.”
The professional development for this year will include Lucy Calkins literacy training, Conscious Discipline training, blended learning training, STEAM training, and using technology in elementary classrooms. One goal of this partnership is to orient Shepherd’s teacher candidates to Berkeley County Schools with the hope that they may choose to work for the school district upon the completion of their teacher preparation education.
