UNF faculty, students and PDS partners present at the annual NAPDS Conference in Jacksonville
More than 50 University of North Florida faculty, undergraduate and graduate students and school-based partners in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties participated in the 2023 NAPDS (National Association for Professional Development Schools) Conference that took place at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville on Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24. The PDS conference brings together school and university partnerships from around the country and abroad to address the challenges we face meeting the needs of P-16 students, P-12 educators and university faculty. NAPDS advances the education profession by providing leadership, advocacy and support to sustain professional development schools as learning communities that improve student learning, prepare educators through clinical practice, provide reciprocal professional development and conduct shared inquiry.
The conference program included many presentations from our UNF community. Presenters from our UNF network included Dr. Wendy Baker, Marilyn Barnwell, Isabella Birtolo, Amy Boyter, Maddy Brady, Dr. Rebecca West Burns, Alex Capobianco, Anthony Catamas, Dr. Kim Cheek, Dr. Rachelle Curcio, Joseph Diaz, Dr. Shaqwana Freeman-Green, Nancy Frias, Lauren Gibbs, Dr. Elizabeth Hale, Dr. Katrina Hall, Kelly Harrell, Micheala Hewitt, Dr. David Hoppey, Valerie Ibanez, Nicholas Johnson, Jeania Jones, Roshanda Jones, Dr. Jennifer Kilpatrick, Meagan Lasoff, Dr. Megan Lynch, Dr. Adrien Malek-Lassiter, Rebecca La Mance, Dari’onna May, Dr. Megan McMillan, Shaundricka Medlock, Jade Menendez, Rilencia Moore, Faith Nevin, Mariann Ocampo, Dr. Matthew Ohlson, Elizabeth Otterbein, Dr. Paul Parkison, MacKenzie Paternostro, Keith Poole, Dr. Deborah Reed, Dr. Raven Robinson-Wilson, Xavier Rozas, Terri Samson, Dr. Nile Stanley, Wildalynn Thomas, Stephen Thompson, Thomasena Thompson, John Luke Vega, Asher Verdi, Renee Walton, Stephanie Weathington, Suzette Wilhelm, Melissa Wright and Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey.
The NAPDS Conference Committee also included several UNF and school partner representatives. Dr. Elizabeth Hale, Jessie Didier, Jade Yuen, Dr. Megan Lynch and Dr. Rachelle Curcio played a large role in thoughtfully organizing the two-day conference and preconference. UNF student volunteers and teacher candidates, led by Jade Yuen, also volunteered their time to help coordinate a smooth-running event. In addition to being on the NAPDS conference committee, Dr. Rachelle Curcio was responsible for leading the NAPDS Preconference Planning Committee. During the preconference, UNF and partner schools shared about their successful partnership with NAPDS attendees. Alex Capobianco, Jessie Didier and Dr. Liz Hale Rozas spoke about Tiger Academy, Dr. Adrien-Malek Lassiter and Dr. Georgina David shared about the UNF Preschool, Jennifer Saoud and Dr. Rachelle Curcio presented about King’s Trail Elementary and the Jacksonville Teacher Residency (JTR), and Roshanda Jones spoke about River City Science Academy. After learning more about these partnerships, attendees enjoyed lunch and visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA).
Dr. Elizabeth Hale, Assistant Professor of Literacy at UNF and faculty-in-residence at Tiger Academy, was awarded the national Exemplary PK20 Boundary Spanner Award. This award recognizes an individual who is exemplary in meeting Essential 8 of Professional Development Schools, in which the individual moves beyond the responsibilities of one’s job to impact a third space. Boundary spanners are situated in a “third space” between university and PK12 settings and are not bound solely by the traditions or responsibilities of any one institution. An exemplary PK20 boundary spanner innovates the systems or practices to enhance the learning of all of those involved in the partnership.
This year’s conference Give Back supported three local UNF partner schools, King’s Trail Elementary, Tiger Academy and River City Science Academy, by providing donations for school supplies. As a UNF partner school, these schools engage in teacher preparation, ongoing professional learning and inquiry to enhance teaching and learning for all stakeholders.
More information about the National Association for Professional Development Schools can be found at Home - NAPDS.