Park Avenue School Becomes Professional Development School

Park Avenue School this week will be formally recognized as a Professional Development School.

A partnership with Manhattanville College will help develop teacher leadership, while better providing the knowledge to meet the challenges of today's classroom. Through this, educators and policymakers will be better able to problem solve for the good of the community.

Although this week marks the formalized beginning of the working relationship between the Port Chester elementary school and the college, student teachers have completed their field experience at the facility in past years.

What's unique is that the program will take that idea a step further—professors from Manhattanville will soon begin classes for not only their student teachers, but also the school teachers of Park Avenue inside their own building.

This collaboration between all forces of the community will consist of an undergraduate course in the fall, with a graduate course taught in the spring.

This elementary facility is the second school in the district to become a Professional Development School—the Edison School has already implemented this program over a year ago with lasting success since its conception.

The program utilizes the idea of continuing education, and that one is never finished learning.

Since it made its mark at Edison, teachers and administrators have taken advantage of the professional teaching experts from the tips of Manhattanville professionals. As a result, the school community has taken a hard look at how to improve teaching methods.

This is especially important in dealing with the unique issue of giving the individual attention to each of the students at the village's school.

The celebratory "ribbon cutting" will take place at 11am today in the school's gym.

Grades 3-5 of Park Avenue's students will be in attendance, as well as Superintendent Don Carlisle and members of the school board. From the college, Dean of Education of Manhattanville College will also be present to celebrate with the village of Port Chester.