They also do action research with the teacher, investigating classroom practice to improve instruction. Teaching Fellows are chosen by SIUC faculty and the participating mentor teachers. The arrangement, which began in spring 1999, will eventually be extended to all the master's programs in teacher education. For her Ph.D. dissertation, Mary Jo Diamond will document and analyze Unity Point's experience over time as it becomes a full-fledged professional development school. Her work will serve as a reference for other schools going through the process.
Teaching is complex, and teacher preparation is equally complex.