Professional Development Schools are a novel educational concept designed to enhance pre-kindergarten through high school education while providing a creative environment for teacher training and professional faculty development. The Schools of St. Benedict, 3900 N. Leavitt St., includes three schools: preschool, elementary and high school, with students ranging from 3 to18 years of age. Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts, 1439 W. Wellington, includes preschool through eighth grade.

The primary goal of the partnership is to create learning environments that support the professional development of the Schools of St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy faculty and the preparation of new teacher candidates from DePaul to serve the learning needs of diverse student populations. In addition, the partner schools will work with DePaul to develop effective teaching practices.

"We are excited to partner with DePaul on this initiative," said Mary Kay Nickels, principal of

St. Benedict High School, where the professional development program will be integrated with the unique structure and resources of the preschool, elementary and high schools. "We will be able to tap into the university's resources and strengthen our curriculum. We can offer DePaul students an environment that supports their mission and goals, as well as give them hands-on teaching experience. We also believe that this partnership will be invaluable not only to our faculty, but also to our students, who will benefit from the improvements to our curriculum."

"Our school shares DePaul's commitment to providing a high quality educational environment for our students, the university students and our teachers. This partnership will enable us to integrate the arts program while strengthening other areas of our curriculum," said Barbara Rieckhoff, Ph.D., principal of Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts.

Through the initiative, qualified faculty members from the Schools of St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy become adjunct professors and clinical faculty at DePaul. DePaul faculty members become teachers-in-residence and conduct research in the schools with the teachers. DePaul students acquire hands-on teaching experience through work in classrooms, and students at the Archdiocesan schools profit from a team of educators studying how they learn to design, implement and assess best practices that will contribute to improving student achievement.

The Schools of St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy faculty will serve as mentors to DePaul students and provide them with practical classroom experience. DePaul students and faculty will share resources and research with the partner schools to strengthen and develop the curriculum. Science teachers from

St. Benedict and the university are currently in meetings to review science resources available at DePaul and to discuss how recent science initiatives can be incorporated into the program. Alphonsus Academy will work with university faculty and students to strengthen arts integration into the academic curriculum.

"Our newest collaboration with St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy will broaden the network of schools that partner with DePaul to employ an educational model that allows teachers, professors and students to learn together in an atmosphere that encourages professional and student growth," said Clara Jennings, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education.

Jennings made the establishment of a professional development partnership one of her top priorities when she began her tenure as dean in 2002. "We initiated the program with four public schools and one Catholic school in Lincoln Park. Working with the Schools of St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy will offer everyone involved a rewarding experience."

Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, serves as a member of Dean Jennings' Advisory Council and encouraged the collaborative effort between the School of Education and the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Schools of St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy were identified as exceptional choices based on their enthusiastic administration and faculty, their commitment to providing quality education through a strong curriculum and their shared missions.

"The partnership is a good fit for the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools and DePaul because of the similarities in our missions and our commitment to a strong Catholic identity," said Wolsonovich.

In addition to its partnership with the Schools of St. Benedict and Alphonsus Academy, the School of Education will continue its already established connection with St. Josaphat Catholic School, 2245 N. Southport Ave.

The School of Education, which was established by DePaul in 1962, offers undergraduate and graduate level programs. Central to its community commitment is the preparation of dedicated professionals for teaching assignments in urban and multicultural environments. More information about the DePaul University School of Education can be found at its Web site http://education.depaul.edu/ .

The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for approximately 111,000 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 283 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 5,800 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 242 elementary and 41 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Web site at www.archchicago.org/schools .