The School-University Partnerships program has a history of outreach to local school districts as well as profit and nonprofit organizations. The first partnership with a school district began in 1995 with Harlem School District 122. The focus of this partnership was to prepare elementary teacher education majors to teach using enhanced technology as part of their daily instructional delivery.
Elementary education majors in their second professional semester participate throughout the fall semester as teaching interns in grades 1-8 classrooms. At the end of the semester they present a "theory into practice" poster session at a curriculum conference. This partnership involves extended placement as students from the second professional semester may elect to do their senior student teaching in the district, either with the same teacher or another mentor teacher.
A number of former elementary education interns have been employed as teachers in the district and some currently serve as mentor teachers to current NIU elementary education majors. Their familiarity with both the NIU undergraduate elementary education program and the Harlem School District serves as an asset for the students they supervise.
The current focus of the School-University Partnership program is to develop a closer link between NIU methods courses and the public schools. Classes are offered to teachers to enhance their mentoring skills as well as to share current methodologies and strategies that the undergraduate elementary education majors are acquiring during their coursework.
Each School-University Partnership school district has a district liaison, or a team of liaisons, who assist in setting up arrangements for clinical placements and aid NIU students and their mentor teachers. The district liaisons are paid by the university for their services.
Presently there are eight School-University Partnerships. These involve DeKalb District 428, Glen Ellyn District 41, Harlem District 122, Kaneland District 302, District U-46 (Elgin), Rochelle District 231, W. Chicago District 33, and Rockford Environmental Science Academy.
Another long-standing partnership involves a nearby assisted living center. Now in its second decade, the partnership with Oak Crest Retirement Center involves placing undergraduate students from the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education in a fitness center for the elderly. Under the supervision of a university faculty member and a graduate assistant, the students develop and put into action individual fitness programs for the Oak Crest residents who volunteer to be in the program.
For further information regarding School-University Partnerships, call 815-753-6994.