Professional Development School (PDS)

ABOUT PDS

The Professional Development School (PDS) is Dordt University’s year-long student teaching program. The PDS began in 2011 as an option for students entering their final year of the Teacher Preparation Program. It has quickly become the premier internship, providing future teachers with an entire year of teaching experiences – from classroom open houses and the first day of school to parent-teacher conferences and report cards. During the fall semester, Dordt students are in the school classroom, Monday through Thursday, for half of the day, working alongside their cooperating teacher. During the second semester, they serve in that same classroom, Monday through Friday, and have the opportunity to be an integral part of an entire year of student growth.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

The PDS provides our education majors with a truly exceptional professional year. The program results speak for themselves - candidates who are outstanding teacher leaders who are well-equipped to serve students in both community and Christian schools all over the world. In addition, the PDS program allows cooperating teachers from local partner schools an opportunity to mentor and grow in the profession, and the students in our local schools receive more support in the classroom. It is one of those rare win-win-win situations.