PURPOSE

The NAPDS Award for Exemplary Professional Development School Achievement recognizes distinctive PDS partnerships for their ongoing contributions to the mission and vision of the National Association for Professional Development Schools.

NAPDS acknowledges that exemplary achievement takes place in large, multi-institutional partnerships as well as in single-site arrangements between P-12 and higher education; in well-funded and in budget-challenged partnerships; in long-standing collaborations as well as in recently established PDS’s.  We seek to recognize PDS excellence wherever it manifests itself.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications for the award must include a formal partnership of at least one P-12 school and an institution of higher education.  Applications may feature a multi-site PDS network or may highlight a single school and its collaboration with a college/university. Applications for the award are restricted to such relationships that support the mission and vision of NAPDS.  Applications must include participation by one or more NAPDS members who have had their contributions documented through publication in one of the NAPDS publications or by presenting at the PDS National Conference within four years prior to the application deadline.  Past recipients of the award are not eligible to apply again until at least four years have elapsed, although separate branches of a university’s PDS network may apply without restriction.

DEADLINE

Applications for the 2023 Exemplary PDS Achievement Award must be received electronically by the NAPDS awards committee no later than January 9, 2023.  Click this link to access the application submission form

APPLICANTS FOR THE AWARD MUST PROVIDE

1.  A cover sheet section of no more than 2 pages that includes: 

• the name, title, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address for two individuals serving as the Primary Contacts for the partnership (one from P-12, one from higher ed);
• the names and positions of all individuals who contributed to the writing of the application;
• the names of all members of the partnership who are current NAPDS members;
• a representative list of collaborative presentations or publications on PDS-related topics involving P-12 and higher education members of the partnership in the past four years.
• NOTE: The Awards Committee acknowledges that funding, partnership size and geography may affect the number of individuals who are in a position to join NAPDS or attend its National Conference. Appropriate consideration will be given to all worthy applications regardless of funding, size or geography.  Similarly, the Committee recognizes that important PDS-related presentations and publications may be made in other settings and journals.
  [The cover sheet section does not count toward the 12-page narrative described below.]

2.  A well-written narrative of no more than 12 double-spaced pages  (12 pt. font) that highlights the partnership’s work in fulfilling the promise of the 9 PDS Essentials (2nd ed.).  The narrative should include the following:

• A concise description of the partnership setting, its component institutions, and the key leadership roles played by P-12 and higher ed stakeholders (1-2 pages);
• A brief description of how resources are shared and how participants are recognized and rewarded for their contributions across institutional settings (1-2 pages);
• Any unique features that characterize the partnership in terms of mission, organization, funding, geographical setting, political environment, etc. (1-2 pages);
• The key section of the narrative is a description of how the partnership is particularly distinctive in fulfilling the mission and vision of NAPDS through one or more of the newly released 9 Essentials (2nd edition).  When appropriate, data supporting accomplishments and achievements should be included. (5-7 pages)
• NOTE:  Reviewers will not open embedded links.

3.  These items should be included as appendices, but do not count toward the 12-page application limit: 

• A copy of the partnership mission statement;
• A copy of the partnership’s written articulation agreement
• (Optional) Up to two letters of support from university or school district leaders.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Selection for the award will be based on the nine essentials of PDS work detailed in the 2021 NAPDS publication titled, “What It Means to Be a Professional Development School:  The Nine Essentials, Second Edition.” 

SELECTION PROCESS

The NAPDS Awards Committee, consisting of individuals with a balanced representation from the P-12 and college/university communities, will recommend the recipient(s) of the award to the NAPDS Leadership Team at its December meeting. Upon approval of the Leadership Team, the recipient(s) will be notified immediately in order to encourage partnership representation at the awards ceremony of the annual conference.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD

The chair of the NAPDS Awards Committee will present the award to the winner.

PUBLICITY

The award shall be publicized in the publications of the NAPDS, on its website, and in other appropriate NAPDS venues. The primary contact persons for the partnership will receive a formal press release to use in publicizing the award.

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2023

• Centreville Elementary School and George Mason University

2022

• Kansas State University and Manahattan-Ogden USD Partnership
• Notre Dame of Maryland University Professional Development Schools Network
• William Paterson University and Paterson Public Schools

2021

• Bowie State University Professional Development Schools Network
• California Lutheran Professional Development Schools Network
• University of North Carolina Charlotte – Kannapolis City Elementary Schools PDS Partnership
• Salisbury University PDS Partnership with the Wicomico County Public Schools

2020

• Brigham Young University Public School PDS Partnership
• George Mason University Daniels Run Elementary PDS Partnership
• Rowan University PDS Network

2019

• University of South Florida and Mort Elementary Community Partnership PDS
• University of South Carolina PDS Network

2018

• SUNY Buffalo State Professional Development School Consortium
• Federal Hocking Local Schools/Ohio University C.A.R.E. Professional Development School Partnership
• Penn State University/State College Area School District Professional Development School Partnership
• Waco Independent School District/Baylor University Professional Development School Partnership

2017

• Baylor University/Midway ISD Professional Development School Partnership
• Monmouth University Professional Development School Partnership
• Salisbury University PDS Partnership with Snow Hill Elementary School

2016

• George Mason University, Fairfax County Public Schools, Prince Williams County Schools, Manassas Park City Schools
• Quinnipiac University School of Education, Side by Side Charter School Fair Haven Elementary School

2015

• Bowie State University PDS Network
• Emporia State University Professional Development School
• North Springs Elementary School and the University of South Carolina
• Salisbury University and Mardela Middle & High School PDS
• Clarke County School District & University of Georgia College of Education Professional Development School District
• PDS Relationship between Dreher High School and the University of South Carolina

2014

• Athens City Schools and the Patton College Center for PDS Partnerships at Ohio University
• Millersville University Secondary Education Professional Development School
• The Elementary Block Network in the Watson College of Education Professional Development System at the University of North Carolina Wilmington
• The University of South Florida College of Education Partnership with the Hillsborough County Public Schools

2013

• Professional Development School Collaboration between Lake Carolina Elementary School and the University of South Carolina
• Winthrop University University-School Partnership Network
• Professional Development School Collaboration between Friendship Elementary School and the University of Central Florida
• Professional Development School Collaboration between Holly Glen Elementary and Edward R. Johnstone Elementary Schools, and Rowan University

2012

• Benedum Collaborative (West Virginia)
• Brigham Young University – Public School Partnership
• Marietta Middle School/Kennesaw State University PDS
• Minnesota State University Mankato PDS Partnership
• Timbercrest – University of Central Florida PDS

2011

• Buffalo State College, School of Education, Department of Elementary Education and Reading Professional Development School Consortium
• Cleveland State University Master of Urban Secondary Teaching and Cleveland School of Science and Medicine
• Kansas State University College of Education PDS Partnership
• Rice Creek Elementary School and the University of South Carolina PDS
• Salisbury University and Worcester County Public Schools Snow Hill Elementary/Worcester Elementary PDS Cluster

2010

• The Indiana State University Professional Development School Partnership
• The Queens University of Charlotte/ Myers Park Traditional Elementary School PDS
• The Towson University -Waterloo-Ilchester-Bellows Spring Elementary Education-Special Education Dual Certification PDS
• The University of South Carolina Professional Development School Network

2009

• Penn State University and State College Area School District Elementary Professional Development School Collaborative
• North Springs Elementary School – Columbia, SC
• North Florida Urban Professional Development School Partnership