PDS is a partnership program between the elementary education department and reading at Buffalo State College and participating elementary schools in the same district as Buffalo State, such as Edison Elementary School, Heim Elementary School and Windermere Elementary School. There are 50 schools in all that participate in the program. The students majoring in elementary education are required to teach for a semester at four of the elementary schools before they graduate. They teach two course sections: math/science and language arts.

The PDS program goals are to:
•   Work to bring about a higher level of learning by all the children enrolled in the elementary schools
•   Provide the best school environment for the student teachers.
•   Create a supportive school site that provides new knowledge for everyone; experienced teachers, administrators, school service personnel and college faculty


According to Day, the program gives students majoring in elementary education an extensive classroom experience and helps to increase their teaching skills as they become familiar with several different teaching styles.

“PDS is a great program that provides good teacher training for the students here at Buffalo State,” she said.

The 2003 Distinguished Program Award was given to Buffalo State by two co- sponsors: the New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE) and the New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE). Day accepted the award for Buffalo State. The award was only established last year and Buffalo State is the first school to win it. The award praised Buffalo State as having the best teacher education program in New York state.
“This was a very big award for Buffalo State,” Day said. “It gives us recognition, hopefully we can win it again and they can start giving us money along with the award.”

www.nys-ate.org
www.ncate.org
www.buffalostate.edu/
depts/elementaryed

Email: MrDainty1225@aol.com