The Patton College of Education's Early Childhood and Elementary Education program currently partners with four local school districts across six elementary and intermediate schools to provide PDS Teacher Candidate placements for students during their junior year. Cohort groups spend a year with a team of professors and elementary faculty studying an integrated curriculum and gaining intensive classroom experience. 

ATHENS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Athens City School District’s Mission: 

The Athens City School District collaborates with students, parents and the community to provide an enriched and rigorous learning environment where every student uses multiple pathways to grow, problem-solve, and reach their potential as a lifelong learner and productive citizen. 

Morrison-Gordon Elementary

What is unique about Morrison-Gordon Elementary?

• Morrison-Gordon serves students from grades PreK-3
• Inclusive classroom experiences
• Services to students with a wide variety of educational needs 
• Experienced staff committed to the success of all learners
• Early intervention in the area of language and literacy
• Building classroom community, fostering self-esteem, and promoting a positive learning environment pedagogy
• The Responsive Classroom Approach is practiced, creating an atmosphere that encourages both academic and social growth

 

Opportunities for Candidates

• Work with Language Tool-Kit, conducting small group reading/writing interventions to those students struggling with early literacy concepts
• Conduct and analyze a variety of reading assessments in order to gather data for use by classroom teachers
• Observe, and be mentored by, experienced teachers utilizing Responsive Classroom philosophies
• Experience assisting with, and creating, a variety of classroom activities/lessons at differing grade levels 
• Connect theory learned in OHIO methods classes to a clinical setting

 

Contact Information

Liz Hoisington
Teacher Liaison
lhoisington@athenscsd.org

Dr. Sara Hartman
Faculty Coordinator
hartmans@ohio.edu

 

East Elementary

What is unique about East Elementary?

• East serves students from grades PreK-3
• A chance to interact with the community during extracurricular functions; volunteers from the community compile approximately 4500 volunteer hours per year
• Inclusive classroom setting with multi-cultural experience
• Fellowship position available for post graduate degree
• Utilizes the Responsive Classroom approach to establish classroom community as well as motivate students to be an active partner in their learning
• Known as an international school offering English as a Second Language for students representing 31 countries and speaking 17 languages
• Teachers utilize the Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Units of Study, and Number Talks and cognitively guided instructional methods to encourage students to discuss their thinking and understanding of mathematics
• Teachers recognize the need to assess and identify students in need of early intervention in language and literacy skills, allowing children to receive individualized intervention at the beginning of their educational experiences.

 

Opportunities for Candidates

• Observe experienced teachers and have opportunities to reflect, ask questions and make observations about what they notice
• Work with Orton-Gillingham phonics' program to assist at-risk students with reading difficulties
• Conduct and analyze a variety of reading assessments in order to gather data for use by classroom teachers
• Observe, and be mentored by, experienced teachers utilizing Responsive Classroom philosophies
• Experience assisting with and creating a variety of classroom activities/lessons at differing grade levels
• Connect theory learned in OHIO methods classes to a clinical setting
• Plan and gain practice in teaching both small and whole group lessons that support integrated content area learning, and receive feedback on teaching
• Together with classroom teachers, candidates plan and implement intervention designed to help children achieve grade level expectations in reading and mathematics
• Work individually or with small groups on specific strategies and skills to support literacy development
• Use a variety of assessment instruments to gather data on student learning

 

Contact Information

Lindsey West
Teacher Liaison
lwest@athenscsd.org

Dr. Christopher Andersen
Faculty Coordinator
andersec@ohio.edu

 

The Plains Intermediate

What is unique about The Plains Intermediate?

• The Plains serves students in 4th-6th grades
• Partnership with Ohio University began in 1991
• Received BEST Practices award in 1996
• Self-renewing, supportive, cooperative learning environment
• A variety of intervention approaches implemented depending on each group's need

 

Opportunities for Candidates

• Family Nights each semester that are planned and implemented by teacher candidates
• Candidates all assist in an annual dinner theater

 

Contact Information

Sheila Ross
Teacher Liaison
sross@athenscsd.org

Dr. Sara Hartman
Faculty Coordinator
hartmans@ohio.edu

Dr. Christopher Andersen
Faculty Coordinator
andersec@ohio.edu

 

 

NELSONVILLE-YORK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Nelsonville-York City School District’s Mission: 

Our vision is to provide a well-rounded educational experience that will support transition from student to global citizen. We expect our students to achieve academic success and become responsible, independent, life-long learners who contribute positively to their communities. 

Nelsonville-York Elementary

What is unique about Nelsonville-York Elementary?

• Located in the beautiful rolling hill country of Ohio, Nelsonville-York Elementary is part of one central campus
• The Elementary School serves 700 students in prekindergarten through grade 5
• Working in teams there are 5 sections of grades K, 1, 2 and 3. Students are grouped heterogeneous and inclusively
• Special programming includes keyboarding, art, music, physical education, library, intervention services, special needs, literacy coaching, counseling and family outreach
• Caring, understanding, passionate teachers and staff work with candidates in a learning community focused on a common goal: SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS

 

Opportunities for Candidates

• Mentoring and co-teaching with highly skilled teachers using research based strategies including Orton-Gillingham and Wilson approaches in literacy
• Working with students at all academic levels in small groups, whole groups and individually
• Mathematics focus with candidates implementing number talks within each classroom
• Collaboration with the community in special events, field trips, holiday celebrations, Family Math-Literacy night and STEM activities
• Use of technology in each classroom with Smart Boards, document cameras, projectors, iPads and chrome books
• Participating in teacher based team meetings, working in grade level teams and applying data based instructional decisions to meet the needs of all learners, academically and emotionally

 

Contact Information

Susan Payne
OHIO Faculty in Residence
payne@ohio.edu

 

FEDERAL HOCKING LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Federal Hocking Local School District’s Mission: 

The Federal Hocking School District uses a progressive approach to help all young people become productive and engaged citizens. Our graduates will be creative thinkers and problem solvers, able to make positive choices about their careers, education, and community. 

Amesville Elementary

What is unique about Amesville Elementary?

• Amesville serves over 320 students from grades Preschool-6
• Inclusive classroom experiences
• Experienced staff committed to the success of all learners
• Early intervention in the area of language and literacy
• Building classroom community, fostering self-esteem, and promoting a positive learning environment pedagogy
• The Responsive Classroom Approach is practiced in the K-3 classrooms, creating an atmosphere that encourages both academic and social growth

 

Opportunities for Candidates

• Work with Fountas and Pinnell's Leveled Literacy Intervention Program (LLI), conducting small group reading/writing interventions to those students struggling with early literacy concepts
• Conduct and analyze a variety of reading assessments in order to gather data for use by classroom teachers
• Observe, and be mentored by, experienced teachers utilizing Responsive Classroom philosophies
• Experience assisting with, and creating, a variety of classroom activities/lessons at differing grade levels (K-3)
• Connect theory learned in OHIO methods classes to a clinical setting

 

Contact Information

Ashley Sechkar
Teacher Liaison
asechkar@fhlancers.com

Laura Wentworth
Faculty Coordinator
wentworl@ohio.edu

 

 

ALEXANDER LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Alexander Local School District’s Mission: 

The mission of Alexander Schools is to provide a positive learning environment that inspires students to achieve through a variety of instructional methods. 

Alexander Elementary

What is unique about Alexander Elementary?

• Amesville serves about 740 students in preschool through grade 5
• Implements the Ohio Improvement Process with the Building Leadership Team and Teacher Based Team meetings
• Collaborates with a number of community agencies and organizations that operate in Athens County and Southeastern Ohio

 

Opportunities for Candidates

• Experience assisting with, and creating, a variety of classroom activities/lessons at differing grade levels (K-3)
• Develop and teach lessons that differentiate instruction for learners with a wide range of needs
• Observe, and be mentored by, experienced mentor teachers and Ohio University clinical educators 
• Connect theory learned in OHIO methods classes to a clinical setting

 

Contact Information

 

Shauna Kostival
Teacher Liaison
skostival@alexanderschools.org

Dr. Chris Kennedy
Faculty Coordinator
kennedyc@ohio.edu