Professional Development Schools

The William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank Trustees Professional Development Schools Partnership brings together the College of Education and Health Science's students and faculty with four Peoria Public School District 150 schools to partner in teaching and learning. The project allows Bradley candidates the opportunity to gain clinical experience in the world of practice.

Interaction and on-going activities with urban school sites enhance the quality of learning for both teachers and students in all partnering institutions.  Continuing collegial support for Student Improvement Plans and professional development by the university facility at the school sites contributes to developing school curricula and cultures.

The current emphasis of the PDS project is Building Leaders and a Learning Community for Children and Families and focusing on developing professionals who are reflective practitioners.

In the fall of 1995, the William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank Trustees awarded a grant to the College of Education and Health Sciences for the purpose of partnering with area schools to promote professional development and "best practice" curriculum among school faculty and field experience students.  Ultimately, the goal is to improve the education experience for children and adult learners.   This grant also provides funding for professional development for the CEHS faculty in the William T. Kemper Academy for Teaching Excellence or known on campus as the Teaching Academy.

Details on each Professional Development School can be found in this Project Overview Brochure (Adobe Acrobat Format)

Professional Development Schools

Valeska Hinton
Early Childhood Education Center
Mrs. Ann Bond, Principal
820 Fifth Ave.
Peoria, IL 61605

 

Roosevelt Magnet School
Mrs. Noly Branscumb, Principal
1704 W. Aiken Ave.
Peoria, IL 61605

 

Manual Academy
Mrs. Taunya Jenkins, Principal
811 S. Griswold St.
Peoria, IL 61605

 

Whittier Primary School
Mr. Doug Atkins, Princpal
1619 W. Fredonia Ave.
Peoria, IL 61606

Council

William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence Coordinators Council

2009 Annual Spring Celebration

Each year members of the William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank Trustees PDS project gather for our annual Spring Celebration. This past year, in 2009 faculty and administrators from Manual High School, Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Center, Whittier Primary School and Roosevelt Magnet School shared a meal with members of the Bradley University faculty and administration.

Recognition was given to the four principals, Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, Mrs. Noly Branscomb, Mrs. Renee Andres and Dr. Beth Bussan. A special thank you was given to Dr. Bussan, as she was retiring at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Dr. Bussan has since moved into a new role with the Bradley Teacher Education Department as one of our part-time faculty!

Mr. Steve Hagenbruch, principal of St. Mark’s Catholic School was on hand to discuss the proposed addition of St. Mark’s as a PDS location. Since the spring, his school has indeed become part of the team, and we are planning our 2009 Fall Teaching Institute Day, to be held at St. Mark’s-Welcome!

A special presentation was given by Dr. Nancy Sherman, professor in the College of Education and Health Sciences at Bradley. She spoke about Finding Joy in Teaching, and her remarks were timely and well received.

Finally, we finished with a retrospective slideshow of all the current PDS school sites. Wow, did we do a lot during the year!


Cross-Cultural Collaboration - Spring 2006

Cross Cultural Collaboration

In the Spring of 2006, the Kemper Fellowship organized a Cross-Cultural Collaboration between international students and teachers from Lumo High School in Finland and Manual High School.  The project allowed future teachers and current students at the university and high school levels to become more aware of the cultural differences, and to build a stronger knowledge base in social studies as well as the need for international awareness.

Newsletters

Selected Presentations

Selected Publications

Resources

For more information please call, write, or send electronic mail to:
Heljä Antola Crowe
William T. Kemper Fellow
1501 West Bradley Avenue
Peoria, IL 61625
Phone: (309) 677-2521
helja@bradley.edu