Partnership Teachers

PDS Partnership Teachers are P-12 school-based teachers in our PDS who serve as the supervising teacher for a teacher intern during the internship semester. Partnership teachers model classroom practices that support the expectations for the teacher interns they mentor. In collaboration with the PDS Site Coordinator and the University Supervisor, Partnership Teachers review the performance of the candidates, to make decisions about teacher intern readiness for increased responsibilities, and to determine evaluation and final grades. Professional development is provided for Partnership Teachers by Site Coordinators and the PDS Office. Click here to find out more about the role and responsibilities of a PDS Partnership Teacher.

Partnership Teacher Recommendations
Partnership teachers are referred by the Site Coordinator and Principal of their school using the reference link in our Collaborative Portal. To review the criteria for becoming a Partnership Teacher click here.

Partnership Teacher Professional Development
Cognitive Coaching
As part of our ongoing efforts to prepare highly qualified teachers, we require all partnership teachers to complete professional development in Cognitive Coaching. This model, developed by Bob Garmston and Art Costa, is designed to help individuals become self-directed, capable of making independent decisions and engaging in self-reflection that leads to personal growth. In the partnership teacher-teacher candidate relationship we use cognitive coaching to ensure that partnership teachers and university supervisors are using developmentally appropriate coaching strategies to nurture future teachers capable of leading in their own classrooms, schools, and the profession. All new partnership teachers complete 10 hours of online professional development in cognitive coaching. To maintain active status as a partnership teacher, teachers must also attend at least one refresher workshop every three years.

• August 23, 2022 (3:00-5:00 PM) F2F 
• September 8, 2022 (5:00-7:00 PM) Virtual   
• October 21, 2022 (* this workshop will be offered as a breakout session at the Professional Learning Day for teachers hosting fall interns- a separate registration will be shared via email in October)
• December 15, 2022 (5:00-7:00 PM) F2F
• January 12, 2023 (5:00-7:00 PM) F2F   
• March 17, 2023 - Early Childhood and Elementary (* this workshop will be offered as a breakout session at the Professional Learning Day for teachers hosting spring interns- a separate registration will be shared via email in March)
• March 31, 2023 - Middle Grades and Secondary (* this workshop will be offered as a breakout session at the Professional Learning Day for teachers hosting spring interns- a separate registration will be shared via email in March)
• April 20, 2023 (5:00-7:00 PM) Virtual     
  
  

  To register, CLICK HERE.

Professional Learning Days
During each semester that a Partnership Teacher hosts a UNCW intern, they are also invited to attend a full day of professional development hosted by the Watson College of Education PDS Office. Professional Learning Days provide teachers with the opportunity to collaborate across schools and partnership districts, learn alongside UNCW faculty and community partners, and discuss a variety of issues related to teacher recruitment and retention efforts across our state. In addition, partnership teachers are provided an opportunity to earn document additional hours of participation by reflecting on ways they might implement ideas and strategies generated from the Professional Learning Day. For more information, click here.

2022-2023 Professional Learning Days

• October 21, 2022
• March 17, 2023 (Elementary Schools and Early Childhood Centers)
• March 31, 2023 (Middle Schools and High Schools)

Documentation of Partnership Teacher Participation
In addition to receiving a stipend for completing the role of the primary partnership teacher (defined in our annual Partnership Teacher Agreements), the PDS Office will document up to 40 hours of participation for each teacher hosting a teacher intern. An explanation of hour accrual can be found here.

Coaching Plans
All partnership teachers will be asked to attest to having completed a minimum of 5 coaching plans in collaboration with their intern. Coaching Plans mirror the Cognitive Coaching Cycle and capture crucial coaching conversations which are initiated by the UNCW intern. A guide for completing Coaching Plans is available below.

Coaching Plan Guide for Partnership Teachers 

Coaching Plan Link for Interns

edTPA Support
The edTPA is a performance-based assessment teacher candidates complete during their student teaching, which was designed by the Stanford Center for Learning and Assessment Equity (SCALE) and is currently being used in 35 states, as well as the District of Columbia as a summative assessment of teacher preparation.  It consists of three tasks which align with one cycle of instruction in which teacher candidates plan 3-5 lessons (Task 1:  Planning), video record themselves teaching those 3-5 lessons (Task 2: Instruction), and analyze student work (Task 3: Assessment).  For each of the three tasks, candidates write commentaries to support and justify their planning decisions (Task 1), analyze their teaching (Task 2) and use data to inform instruction (Task 3). For additional information regarding edTPA, please use the links below and/or plan to attend one of the professional development opportunities noted above.

Partnership Teacher and Supervisor Support

PDS Collaborative Portal
The WCE Collaborative Portal serves as the “go-to site” to retrieve all information, materials, and tools teachers will need to perform tasks efficiently and effectively as Partnership Teachers. Teachers can access the Collaborative Portal using the link below. If you do not know your username and password, please use the “Forgot” link on the sign in page to retrieve this information using your professional school email.

Link to Collaborative Portal

Link to Portal Tutorial