Professional Development School Network

Professional Development School Network
Baltimore City Public Schools

HAMPSTEAD HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Address:
500 South Linwood Avenue
Baltimore MD 21224
Phone: (410) 396-9146

School Principal:
Sharman Rowe

School Contact:
Kathi Sexton

Towson Contact:
Barbara Maestas
bmaestas@towson.edu

DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOOL

Hampstead Hill Elementary School is located in the Canton area of Baltimore City. Approximately 500 students, ranging from pre-kindergarten to grade 5, attend the school. State and federal funds provide an all-day kindergarten program including instructional assistants and the funding of a parent liaison.

In 1995, an intensive school-based reading program was implemented for grade one students. The creation of this program led to the school being invited to become a member of the Abell Foundation sponspored Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) in 1996. The curriculum is highly structured and designed to help students develop academic skills and acquire knowledge of history, geography, science, and literature. It covers beginning reading, including phonics, comprehension, spelling, mathematics, composition, and grammar. Core Knowledge is used for social living areas. This curriculum utilizes lessons that are performance based and that support the Maryland Performance Outcomes and Indicators associated with the Dimensions of Learning.

MISSION STATEMENT

To maximize each child's opportunity to learn and provide optimal instruction in order to prepare students to be responsible citizens and afford them the chance to acquire the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to make informed decisions that lead to meaningful and productive lives.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLABORATION

• One of three schools in a multi-site professional development school for teacher candidates seeking certification in elementary or early childhood education in the Master of Arts in Teaching program.
• Hampstead Hill Elementary has joined with Sarah M. Roach Elementary, in Baltimore City, and Centennial Lane Elementary, in Howard County, to create a PDS whose goal is to share promising practices across school districts.
• This partnership allows the interns to complete an intensive internship in each school where the extensive internship will take place, prior to the final semester.
• Interns begin the first internship in August when the teachers return to school, learning about the students, the curricula, and the community.
• Interns begin the first internship in August when the teachers return to school, learning about the students, the curricula, and the community.
• Following the initial intensive three-week block, interns spend three days per week in the classrooms full time and complete teacher preparation course work at the school sites.
• Interns spend the final two weeks of the first internship in the classroom full time, working with each mentor to develop plans for the extended final semester.
• In the extended final semester, the professional development needs of the interns are cultivated throughout the two 9-week rotations, one at each of the school sites. The experience of the previous semester allows the intern to assume of extensive teaching responsibilities.
• On-site graduate courses are offered to the in-service teachers.
• School-based teachers serve on review teams for intern professional development portfolios.
• Interns implement an action research project with support from mentors.
• Interns at each school implement a service project for the school.

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