Inaugural pds interns

Watch as PDS Interns experience their "First Days at Eli Whitney." small (10MB) / large (45MB)

Eli Whitney Professional Development School

The recent completion of the inaugural year for professional development school interns at the Little Village/CPS partnership marks the beginning of an expansion of partnership activities between Illinois State University and Chicago Public Schools. A new brochure, called The Little Village Education Partnership (pdf), highlights the professional development school program.

A celebratory program was held in April for the nine interns and their families.  “This program is a national model…not only in the annals of Illinois State University but this is going to become a model in other colleges of education,” said Deborah Curtis, Dean, College of Education.

Supported by the work of Robert Lee, Director of Chicago Teacher Education Programs and Partnerships, this collaboration has resulted in a renewed partnership between Illinois State University and Chicago Public Schools.  “Every child you teach…you are changing not only that child’s life, but his kids’ life or her kids’ life and the life after that,” said Ascension Juarez, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chicago Public Schools.

For more information on becoming a teacher in an urban school, please contact teacherpipeline@ilstu.edu.