Our most longstanding and comprehensive partnership initiative is our Professional Development System (PDS), a school-university partnership with deep and broad impact across Southeastern North Carolina.
The PDS partnership was initiated in 1993 to provide classroom learning opportunities for future teachers. PDS has grown into a nationally-recognized network of relationships that provides support for WCE teacher education students and support for teachers as they move through their careers. We also partner with teachers and district leaders to enhance learning opportunities for students throughout the region.
Partnership Districts
Partnership Schools
Partnership Teachers
For the past 30 years, the Watson College of Education at UNCW has been committed to developing and sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships with P-12 schools. The goal of our PDS is two-fold:
Our network is comprised of dedicated teachers, administrators and other school personnel who work tirelessly to do what is best for the young people in our region. Our partners support our student interns, model best practices, and advocate for quality public education. Together, we collaborate on ways to positively affect public school reform, broaden professional development efforts in our region, and enhance teaching and learning in ways that support creation of a challenging, engaging, relevant and nurturing environment for both teachers and students.
Our longstanding partnership, which benefits teachers-in-training and our partnership teachers, schools and districts, has received national recognition. In 2006, the PDS was awarded the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. In 2014, the PDS won the National Association of School University Partnerships (NASUP) award for Exemplary PDS Achievement. PDS received NASUP's Exemplary PDS Award again in 2024 in recognition of the strength of our genuine collaborative partnerships with Pre-K-12 schools.
Partnerships are dependent upon the establishment of common goals, reciprocity and collaborative work. And, they also require compassion, empathy and integrity. We have entered into each partnership with genuine support for the work that P-12 educators do, with an understanding that such work is challenging. Together, we are committed to educate, nurture and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Somer Lewis, Director
Professional Development System
910.962.7244
lewiss@uncw.edu