Professional Development School Partnerships

Lesley's professional development school partnerships with elementary schools in Cambridge were established for the purpose of enhancing the pre-service preparation of Lesley students, the professional development of veteran teachers and university faculty, and the education of children. A Lesley faculty member is assigned to each school; clusters of student teachers are placed in the schools and practitioners are actively involved in the education and mentoring of the student teachers, both at the school and as speakers and adjunct faculty at the university. Lesley and school faculty engage in professional exchanges such as study groups, workshops, curriculum development, and classroom inquiry projects. The schools are exciting, diverse communities of learners, dedicated to the continuous growth of all participants. They provide a unique opportunity for Lesley students to experience the integration of theory and practice and join together with professionals and parents to collaboratively generate new ideas about effective teaching practices.