About the Network
"The Partner School Network develops cooperative relationships among schools, school districts, and the University to ensure that pre-service teachers have top quality preparation through high quality clinical experiences and coursework intimately connected to today’s classrooms. We look forward to working with you to develop and re-establish these mutually beneficial relationships."
~ Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, Associate Dean for Teacher Education
The Partner School Network (PSN) at the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Education is made up of 18 schools across four local districts and various programs in the School of Education. School and University based partners are committed to the high achievement of all students, focusing on high need schools and the promotion of inclusive, equitable education. While a key function of this network is to prepare pre-service educators and to secure consistent, high-quality sites for clinical experiences, partnerships are established so that the UW plays a greater role in strengthening school communities and improving student outcomes. Educational research and professional development activities (supported at over $26,000 this year) in the partner schools are more directly connected with the needs of the school. This reciprocal flow of expertise within and between institutions results in more collaborative and effective teacher preparation.
A design team made up of district and university representatives met in the spring and summer of 2010. That group articulated a shared vision and processes that would represent the interests of schools, districts, and the University.