About FSU PDS Partnership

In the early 1990s West Virginia became one of the first states to support the transformation of teacher professional development and teacher education through P-12 higher education partnerships. In a process known as “simultaneous renewal,” higher education and public schools work together to focus on teacher quality as the cornerstone of enhanced student achievement.

FSU Partnership History
Fairmont State is one of ten public higher education institutions in West Virginia to form a Professional Development Schools Partnership. The Fairmont State University Partnership began in 2004-05 with two public schools and added two more the following year. Now in 2009, the partnership has grown to include 40 public schools marking it as the largest partnership in the state of West Virginia.

FSU/PDS Partnership Governance Structure
Characteristics of the Executive Committee

• The Executive Committee is a standing body, not an ad hoc group assembled for specific projects.
• The Executive Committee is assembled by the partnership director and will be a representative group consisting of SoE faculty, Arts and Sciences faculty, principals, and site coordinators. If possible all six counties will be represented and each developmental level (elementary, middle and high).
• The Executive Committee will meet periodically, as much as three times per semester or as infrequently as once per semester.

Functions of the Executive Committee

• Examine important issues facing the partnership.
• If the Executive Committee does not reach consensus on a matter, the final decision will remain with the Partnership Director.
• The Executive Committee gives input on the budget each year in advance of its submission to the WV Department of Education and Arts.
• Continually assess and revise accordingly, the performance of the Partnership with respect to communication, decision-making, and sharing ideas.
• Undertake discussions as to the goals and future of the Partnership.
• Develop and implement a strategy for involvement of all stakeholders, including but not limited to County Superintendents, Boards of Education, Deans, FSU President and Provost, etc.