Working on a Public School Calendar: Personal Reflections on the Changing Role of a University Faculty Member in a Professional Development School

Abstract

As the movement to establish Professional Development Schools (PDSs) goes forward, one of the many issues to examine is the changing role of university faculty and the impact of that role on faculty members (Abdal-Haqq, 1998; Darling-Hammond, 1994; Teitel, 1994). What follows is a personal reflection about my experience as a university faculty member working in a PDS for over 5 years. It is important to examine the experiences of those of us (university faculty members) most close to the PDS work, as concern about the time and resources universities are investing in field-based work rather than in traditional teaching and scholarship is increasing. Most often, university faculty members involved in PDS work serve in the role of a liaison. Although the title and responsibilities may differ among partnerships, most often one or more faculty members who repre-