The purpose of this agreement is to maximize our resources and work together to improve results for Memminger Elementary students and novice teachers enrolled in College of Charleston teacher education programs. It is hoped that this partnership will result in ongoing quality field and clinical practice placements for teacher education candidates, ongoing professional development for Memminger Elementary teachers who desire to become Partnership Faculty in College of Charleston’s teacher education program, and ongoing scholarly and professional development opportunities for College of Charleston faculty.

It is believed that all engaged in work at the school site must be committed to ensuring that each and every child learns and develops to her/his potential. It is further believed that all school staff ultimately should be committed to providing quality clinical practice and field experience placements.

Two paramount goals will always be at the heart of our work and therefore form the axis for assessment and evaluation:

• We want the best educated and motivated children possible; and
• We want the best prepared and committed next generation of teachers possible.

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Belief Statements

• The education of future teachers is the responsibility of the entire profession, both school based personnel and those in colleges and universities.
• The school is the unit of change rather than a few individuals within the school.
  
• In order for the partnership to work, some responsibilities and resources are shared.
  
• It is important for the Partnership Faculty to understand the goals of the teacher education program, and it is important for the College Based Faculty to understand the goals of the school.
  

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Goals

• Demonstrate the added value and benefits of a sustained and formalized partnership between higher education and K-12 education.
  
• Serve to encourage, promote, and support year-round and after-school learning and child development opportunities.
  
• Provide a structure and methodology for demonstrating the benefits of a reciprocal learning environment involving school and college faculty and students, emphasizing theory and practice, and modeling best practices in peer support, research, and professional mentoring and self-assessment.
  
• Establish the processes and procedures to encourage and enable the involvement of community stakeholders in education, youth development, and professional development.
  
• Launch the District 20 Professional Development Hub at Memminger.

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Benefits

• Memminger’s students benefit from the presence of additional adults who can provide ongoing attention to individual needs in the classroom.
  
• College of Charleston benefits from having a Professional Development Site, staffed by Partnership Faculty who are knowledgeable about College of Charleston programs and skilled in the use of supervision skills, where candidates can be placed for their field experience and clinical practice.
  
• Memminger’s teachers benefit from the chance to grow professionally in areas that may not otherwise be available to them. In addition, the possibility of co- teaching with college-based faculty affords the opportunity to critically examine the curriculum and methodology currently being employed in individual classrooms.
  
• The profession benefits from new teachers who have been prepared and nurtured in an environment where professional faculty committed to excellence are associated with the entire range of field experiences.

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