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Paradise Professional Development School

The Paradise Professional Development School provides a powerful learning environment which fosters responsible decision-making values diversity, and enables all students to master essential skills and concepts through reading, writing, and mathematics. Through continual professional renewal, Paradise Professional Development School teachers and University of Nevada, Las Vegas partners accept responsibility to ensure that students reach their highest potential.

Paradise PDS Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Research
3. Forms
4. Teacher Preparation
5. Cohort Information
6. Professional Development
7. Coordinating Council
8. Directions
9. Contact Information

2008-2009 Paradise PDS Executive Summary

In December 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding Professional Development Schools (PDSs) was finalized between the Clark County School District (CCSD) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Professional Development Schools are places where educators focus on increased P-16+ student learning and achievement embedded in the three essential functions of preservice teacher education, continuous professional development, and research and inquiry. Download the entire 2008-2009 Paradise PDS Executive Summary.

Research

The Paradise Professional Development School (PPDS) supports research conducted by UNLV faculty and their students. The PPDS Research Committee was established for the specific purpose of facilitating research that is aligned with the Mission of the PPDS. The Committee reviews proposals to identify potential obstacles in the use of the PPDS for research and to develop strategies to eliminate those obstacles. To that end, the Research Committee has established procedures for the submission of requests for access to students, their parents, and members of the PPDS staff as participants in research, which may include the use of equipment and space in the PPDS. The applicant is responsible for maintaining contact with the PPDS Research Committee as to the status of the application. Researchers who conduct research at the Paradise PDS agree to disseminate the findings/results to the PPDS faculty/staff.

Step 1. Paradise PDS Research Review:

PPDS Research requests AND UNLV IRB forms should be submitted electronically by the 15 th of each month to Dr. Pam Campbell, PPDS Coordinator. The PPDS Research Committee, in consultation with the applicant/s and other appropriate members of the PPDS staff review research requests within 7-10 days. Attention is given to the number of research projects underway at any given time to ensure that the total research effort does not exceed the capacity of the PPDS or its staff. In addition, the Committee will determine if the procedures are reasonable in terms of the time required of students, their parents and the staff. If the request is approved, the Paradise PDS Principal provides the following:

• A letter approving Use of the Facility to be included in the UNLV and CCSD IRB applications.
• A Sponsor Lette r to be included with the CCSD IRB Application.

Step 2. UNLV and CCSD IRB Review:

Following approval of the PPDS Research Request, the applicant should submit the following forms simultaneously :

• UNLV IRB Application (with Use of the Facility letter) AND,
• CCSD IRB Application (with Use of the Facility and Sponsor letters) to the CCSD Research and Evaluation Department Coordinator.( Note: Action Research is exempt from CCSD IRB Review .) Applications sponsored by a CCSD administrator are "expedited", meaning that they do not have to go to the full Research Review Committee for review. Following receipt of CCSD IRB materials, the Office of Research and Innovation will issue tentative approval , pending UNLV IRB approval.

Step 3. Final Approval:

Evidence of UNLV IRB approval should be forwarded to the CCSD Research and Evaluation Department Coordinator, who will initiate a CCSD approval letter for the application. When final approval has been obtained, the applicant should contact Pam Campbell to coordinate research and dissemination activities

Forms

1. Activity Request Form
2. Research Request Form
3. CCSD Research Application Instructions
4. CCSD Research Application
5. Code of Federal Regulations Title 34 Department of Education PART 97 - Protection of Human Subjects

Teacher Preparation

Under construction

Cohort Information

During the 2008-2009 CCSD academic school year, thirteen teacher candidates have been selected to become part of the Elementary Cohort Program at Paradise and Petersen PDS schools. They were selected based on grade point, interest, status in the elementary education program, and an interview with College of Education and PDS faculty. Nine are traditional students and four are nontraditional students in terms of age and life experiences.

These students are placed for practica and student teaching experiences in the classrooms of many veteran mentor teachers at Paradise, grades Kindergarten through fifth grades. Approximately 300 elementary students will benefit from the extra support provided by these interns.

Fall 2009 Applications: The following requirements need to be completed before the start of the Professional Development School cohort program in Fall 2009:

1. College of Education Core Requirements
• EDU 210 Nevada School Law
• EPY 303 Educational Psychology
• EPY 451 Foundations of Ed. Assessment
• EPY 452 Counseling Education
• EDU 280 Valuing Cultural Diversity
• EDSP 411 Students with Disabilities in General Education Settings
2. Elementary Methods and Materials Requirements
• EDU 201 Intro to Elementary Education
• EDU 214E Preparing Teachers to Use Technology
• PED 337 Movement Experiences for Children
• EDEL 331 Teaching Elementary School Art OR MUS 453 Music Skills for Classroom Teachers
• EDRL 471 Language Acquisition, Development & Learning
• HED 424 Teaching Elementary School Health
• EDRL 401 Children's Lit. Elementary School Curriculum
3. Complete and pass the Praxis I (PPST).
4. Required pre-cohort classes may be taken over any of three 2009 summer sessions.
5. Apply online at the College of Education Field Experience website for Practicum 1 for Fall 2009 and get fingerprinted during Spring 2009, by posted deadlines (go to http://education.unlv.edu/ofe/ for full details).
6. Fill out a PDS application (available in the Gayle Zeiter Literacy Development Center or the Advising Center).
7. Make an appointment (call 702-895-1537) and take the application to the College of Education Advising Center for review and approval.
8. Applications will begin to be processed in February 2009 and interviews scheduled during the month of March/April 2009.
9. Block 1 (P-1), Block 2 (P-2), and Block 3 (Student-teaching) courses will taken as part of the cohort program.

Download the Paradise or Petersen Professional Development Schools Cohort Program Application in PDF format. Application deadline for the program beginning Fall 2009 is March 31, 2009

What are PDF Files?

Professional Development

The Paradise Elementary Professional Development School (PDS) is a unique educational environment for UNLV students and faculty, and for students and teachers in the Clark County District. Housed on the UNLV campus, Paradise PDS enables members of the partnership to participate jointly in teacher education and field-based research; engage in continuous joint professional development; and, through shared resources, provide additional opportunities for student learning, as well as support for one another.

Coordinating Council

The Coordinating Council for each school will set a yearly agenda, which aligns with the school site's academic school year, that outlines a strategic plan for joint initiatives, teacher education programs, and field-based research priorities. The Coordinating Council will publish this plan by April 1 of each year. In addition, the Coordinating Council will oversee and monitor the strategic plan for effective collaboration between the PDS and UNLV. In order to accomplish these goals, each Coordinating Council will meet at least three times per year, meetings to be held in October, January, and March. Visit the Professional Development Schools Coordinating Council web page for more information about the Coordinating Council.

1. Paradise PDS Coordinating Council Members 2008-2009 [Adobe PDF]
2. Coordinating Council Meeting Agenda October 28, 2008 [Adobe PDF]

Directions

Paradise PDS is located on the UNLV campus. Take Maryland Parkway to Cottage Grove Avenue, which is the first street south of Flamingo. Travel west on Cottage Grove to the stop sign. Turn right at the stop sign and then left into the parking lot north of the Boys & Girls club and east of the Paradise PDS playground. Park in a space marked PPDS. Check into the school office for the proper parking credential.

View Larger Map

Contact Information

Dr. Pam Campbell
PPDS Coordinator
Paradise Professional Development School: Rm. 6
900 Cottage Grove Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89119 Email: campbellp@interact.ccsd.net, campbelp@unlv.nevada.edu Tel: 702-799-5660 or 702-895-1107, FAX: 702-895-2038 or 702-895-0984