2017 News Stories
Elementary education doctoral student selected as president for National Association for Professional Development Schools
Wendy Baker, Partnership Resource Teacher for Hillsborough County Public Schools
College of Education doctoral student Wendy Baker was selected by The National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) to serve as the association's president for a three-year term.
An elementary educator for almost 20 years, Baker is a Partnership Resource Teacher for Hillsborough County Public Schools, a unique Professional Development School hybrid role between the school district and the University of South Florida (USF). In this role, Baker works closely with mentor teachers, teacher candidates and elementary school students.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to expand my involvement within The National Association for Professional Development Schools," said Ms. Baker. "Currently, my passion for Professional Development Schools is connected to my daily collaboration with administrators, classroom teachers, pre-service teachers, resource and district personnel, and professors and directors from the university. My vision for the Association is to increase representation from P-12 educators who are eager to enhance their roles within NAPDS."
Alongside her work in the school district, Baker is also working towards a PhD in Elementary Education in the USF College of Education, a long-standing supporter of school-university partnerships and clinical practice.
"It is an important recognition of the work of Hillsborough County Public Schools and the partnership between the school district and the USF College of Education that Wendy has been elected as President-Elect of the NAPDS," said Dr. Roger Brindley, Interim Dean of the USF College of Education. "USF has a long history of supporting the values of NAPDS, going back to the mid-'90's and the Holmes Group efforts in this regard, and it is wonderful to see this legacy of leadership continuing."
Baker will serve as President-Elect in 2017 and will assume the presidency in 2018, beginning her term at the Association's national conference in March.
About the USF College of Education:
The USF College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (formerly NCATE) and is fully approved by the Florida Department of Education. The USF College of Education is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 100 programs in the nation, as well as in the top 30 for online graduate education programs. The USF College of Education has more than 51,000 alumni who are making a difference in the lives of children each day.
About The National Association for Professional Development Schools:
The National Association for Professional Development Schools advocates for and supports the creation and sustainability of collaborative partnerships between public schools and colleges/universities with the goal of shaping educator practice and leadership.