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SIGÌýMission,ÌýVision, and History

Preamble

The development of the School-University Partnership Research (SUPR) SIG's updated vision and mission statement was a collaborative, member-driven process that began in spring 2025, when the leadership team initiated discussions and shared scholarly readings to establish a theoretical foundation. Over the summer of 2025, leadership members worked asynchronously to draft individual vision and mission statements, which were presented and reviewed at the September 2025 leadership meeting. Artificial intelligence tools were then used to synthesize the multiple drafts into a cohesive consolidated statement, which core leadership members carefully refined to ensure the language was timeless, inspirational, and reflective of the organization's inclusive identity.

The refined statements were subsequently shared with the broader SIG membership via an online survey in late 2025 for feedback and input. Following the receipt of member feedback, SUPR SIG leaders convened on February 19, 2026, to review all responses and incorporate the recommended changes into the updated vision and mission statement. As a next step, leadership shared the revised document with the full membership, and the finalized statement was published on the SUPR SIG webpage, hosted by AERA, in advance of the ÐÜèÊÓƵ2026 Conference.

The updated vision and mission of the SUPR SIG is intended to be a living, fluid document — one that honors the rich legacy of the Professional Development Schools (PDS) movement that laid our foundation in 1995, while boldly forging a new and expansive path for the future of school-university partnership research and practice. This document reflects an ongoing commitment to growth and collective ownership, recognizing that our understanding of inclusive, equitable partnership work must continue to evolve in response to the diverse voices and experiences that shape our field. To that end, the SUPR SIG will create meaningful opportunities — through webinars, publications, and collaborative dialogue — to engage current and former members and leaders in refining and firmly articulating a shared vision and mission that truly belongs to all.

Vision

The SUPR SIG works towards the renewal of educational practice through the dissemination of cutting-edge research and practices on school-university partnerships that creates democratic outcomes for students and educators across P‑12 educational settings.

Mission

The SUPR SIG is a community of international P‑12 educators, university faculty, and researchers committed to advancing the study of school-university partnerships. Through collaborative inquiry, we are dedicated to leading partnership research, strengthening equitable connections between schools and universities, and disseminating evidence-based practices.
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SUPR SIG’S Aims

With roots firmly established by the Professional Development Schools (PDS) movement in 1995, the SUPR SIG aims to positively impact school-university practices and research across four interconnected pillars:

1.Ìý Facilitating Partnerships and Collaboration

•Ìý Supporting the development and sustainability of diverse school-university partnerships across P‑12 educational contexts and partnership models.

•Ìý Creating opportunities for educators and researchers, across the globe, to organize and conduct joint initiatives that foster collaborative inquiry and shared learning.

•Ìý Engaging schools, universities, and communities as equal partners in addressing authentic problems of practice.

2.Ìý Advancing Partnership Research

•Ìý Promoting, sponsoring, and conducting research on school-university partnerships, including their design, implementation, outcomes, and impact.

•Ìý Encouraging innovative research that examines partnership effectiveness, equity, and transformative potential.

•Ìý Generating new professional, academic, and community-based knowledge that advances the field of school-university partnerships.

3.Ìý Building Community and Professional Growth

•Ìý Providing a vibrant, inclusive community that supports members across P‑12 schools, higher education institutions, and community organizations.

•Ìý Creating spaces for meaningful engagement, critical dialogue, mentoring, and exchange of diverse perspectives on partnership work.

•Ìý Facilitating professional learning opportunities, including reflection, critique, and dissemination of partnership practices and research findings.

•Ìý Strengthening the pathways and development of partnership scholars and practitioners in educational leadership and related fields.

4.Ìý Communicating and Sharing Best Practices

•Ìý Disseminating evidence-based practices and innovative approaches to school-university partnership development.

•Ìý Facilitating scholarly exchange through conferences, publications, and collaborative networks.

•Ìý Influencing practice and policy by showcasing effective partnership models and their contributions to educational improvement and student learning.

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SIG HISTORY

The School-University Partnership Research SIG (SUPR SIG), formerly the Professional Development School Research (PDSR) SIG that began in 1995, underwent a name change in 2022 to better encompass diverse school-university partnership models.

The purpose of the SUPR SIG is to provide individuals engaged in research about school-university partnerships with a forum for discussion and a space for mutual support. The SUPR SIG encourages thoughtful and rigorous research which emanates from a variety of theoretical perspectives and utilizes many different investigative approaches and methods, while remaining faithful to the core principles of the PDS movement influenced by the Holmes Group in the 1980s (Holmes Group, 1986, 1990), the National Network for Educational Renewal, and the Research Practice Partnership initiatives. The SUPR SIG facilitates and encourages opportunities for inquiry, reflection, critique and collaboration among school-university partnerships representing all levels of the educational process and from all types of institutions and settings committed to improving PK–12 and educator development in higher education.

ÌýDear SUPR SIG members,

As a leadership team, weÌýare excited to continue the scope and mission of the School-University Partnership Research (SUPR) SIG — formerly the Professional Development School Research SIG — to serve a variety of scholars researching and doing partnership work. The process of broadening the focus of the SIG began several years ago under the leadership of past chairsÌýJoe Feinberg, Melissa Baker, and Diane Yendol-Hoppy.Ìý

As the SUPR SIG Chair for 2025–26, I am an associate professor of research design, methods, and analysis at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. I have been studying teacher residencies for 10 years, including applying Third Space theory in this work. I have been published in teacher education journals such as The Teacher Educator, Teaching and Teacher Education, and the Journal of Teacher Education. In addition to my work on teacher residencies, I also study issues around teacher leadership and teacher candidates' use of data. I am proud of my relationships with my local school division, Norfolk Public Schools, including my service as a member of the Gifted Education Advisory Committee.

I invite you to engage with the SUPR SIG membership this spring at the ÐÜèÊÓƵconference in Los Angeles, CaliforniaÌýto explore and expand the meaningful work that we all do.

I look forward to seeing you this spring.

Warmly,

Jori S. Beck

SUPR SIG Chair, 2025–26Ìý |Ìý College of William & MaryÌý |Ìý jbeck@wm.edu

News and Announcements

Do you have an announcement, publication, event, or opportunity to share with fellow members? Contact the SIG Secretary/Treasurer to have your item distributed to the membership via the ÐÜèÊÓƵlistserv using this Google Form: To ensure you are receiving listserv communications, please verify that your ÐÜèÊÓƵmembership and SIG subscription are current by contacting ÐÜèÊÓƵdirectly.

SUPR SIG OFFICERS

Jori S. Beck | Chair (2025-2026) | School of Education | College of William & Mary | jbeck@wm.edu 

Susan L. Ogletree| Immediate Past Chair (2025-2026)| College of Education and Human Development| Georgia State University| sogletree1@gsu.edu

Valerie Hill-Jackson |Chair Elect (2025-2026) 

Erika Saito | Secretary/Treasurer (2025-2027) | Partnerships & Outreach, University of Massachusetts Global | lorine.saito@umassglobal.edu 

Morgan Faison | Past Secretary/Treasurer (2023-2025 |  Mary Frances Early College of Education | University of Georgia | mfaison@uga.edu

Melissa Baker |Program Chair (2025-2026) |  Department of Education and Wellness | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College| melissa.baker@abac.edu

*Program Chair is a two-year, one-time term that overlaps with the new Program Chair.  

Committees

The SIG has two ongoing committees. Additional committees or task forces are convened as needed. For more information about current committees and the opportunity to serve, please contact the Chair.

Awards Committee: Reviews nominations and selects recipients for the Dissertation Scholarship Award and the Claudia A. Balach Award. Former award winners are encouraged to serve.

Graduate Student Seminar Committee: Plans and coordinates the Graduate Student Seminar held in conjunction with the ÐÜèÊÓƵAnnual Meeting, supporting the development of emerging scholars in the field.

Past Chairs

A listing of past SIG chairs. The SUPR SIG was founded in 1995 as the Professional Development Schools SIG.

1995                Lee Teitel                                              Harvard University
2003               Jeanne Tunks                                      University of North Texas
2005               Jane Neopolitan                                  Towson University
2008               Diane Yendol-Hoppey                       University of North Florida
2011                Kristien Zenkov                                   George Mason University
2013                Eva Garin                                             Bowie State University
2014                Rebecca West Burns                          Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
2015                Susan Ogletree                                    Georgia State University
2016                Gwendolyn Benson                            Georgia State University
2017                Linda A. Catelli                                   Queens College
2018                Cindy Gutierrez                                  University of Colorado – Denver
2019                Janna Dresden                                    University of Georgia
2020                Diane Gomez                                      Manhattanville College
2021                Joseph Feinberg                                 Georgia State University
2022                Melissa A. Baker                                Abraham Baldwin Agricultural                                                                                 College                          
2023                Diane Yendol-Hoppey                      University of North Florida
2024                Susan Ogletree                                   Georgia State University
2025                Jori S. Beck                                         College of William & Mary
2026                Valerie Hill-Jackson                          Texas A&M University

Structure & Government 

The operations of the SUPR SIG are governed by a set of Bylaws revised by the Executive Committee, with input from the membership, and ratified by membership vote.

BYLAWS — CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION

The SUPR SIG Bylaws are presently undergoing revision and are not available for direct download at this time. A copy is available to SIG members upon request. To obtain the current version, please contact:

SIG Chair:  Jori S. Beck  |  jbeck@wm.edu

ÐÜèÊÓƵAdministration:  aera.net  |  ÐÜèÊÓƵCentral Office, Washington, DC

Each year, SIG 079 (SUPR) acknowledges outstanding research and service within our community through two prestigious awards. Award nominations open November 1, with packets due January 1. Both awards are presented at AERA's Annual Meeting. A SUPR SIG committee appointed by the Chair reviews all nominations and reserves the right not to present an award should nominees not fully meet the selection criteria.

SUPR SIG Dissertation Scholarship Award

PURPOSE

The SUPR SIG Dissertation Scholarship Award (formerly the Professional Development School [PDS] Research Dissertation Scholar Award) recognizes dissertation research in P‑12 educational settings on essential problems of practice, professional development, and student outcomes in school-university partnership settings. The SIG recognizes a variety of school-university partnerships including teacher residencies, research-to-practice partnerships, community schools, professional development schools, collaborations between schools and universities, and many more. The honoree will be introduced to the ÐÜèÊÓƵSUPR SIG community and will share their research at the SIG's business meeting at the upcoming ÐÜèÊÓƵAnnual Meeting.

WHO MAY APPLY?

Doctoral students engaged in dissertation research conducted in a school-university partnership may apply for this award. Both domestic and international scholars are encouraged to apply. The applicant must be involved with a school-university partnership research/inquiry project from its inception to the presentation of the findings.

At the time of the annual conference, the applicant must not be more than one year past the date of receipt of their doctoral degree. Applicants who have not yet graduated are also eligible to apply if the data collection and analysis stages of the dissertation work are completed so that there are results to share. If chosen, the awardee is expected to attend ÐÜèÊÓƵand present the research at the SUPR SIG business meeting.

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Demonstrate the potential to contribute to the scholarship around school-university partnership work: the dissertation is clearly situated in school-university partnership research including research-to-practice partnerships, teacher residencies, school-university partnerships, community schools, Professional Development Schools, and others.

2. Represent scholarship/research situated in a school-university setting with findings to share: the dissertation must be focused on a partnership between a PK-12 school or district/division and a college or university

3. Demonstrate the potential for building the foundation of a sustained program of research and inquiry within a school-university setting: the dissertation is grounded in school-university partnership research and addresses implications for future work

APPLICATION

Submit a description of your research (maximum 2,000 words) addressing the three criteria above. Include the applicant's name, affiliation, and contact information. Also include a letter of support from the applicant's dissertation sponsor or committee chair and the applicant's CV. The application is made available each year in November through the SUPR SIG’S listserv. Submit electronically to the SIG Secretary.

DEADLINE

All applications must be received by January 1. Announcements will be made by February 15 each year.

Claudia A. Balach School-University Partnership Award

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Claudia A. Balach School-University Partnership Award is to encourage collaborative research in school-university partnerships on critical practice challenges, professional development, and student outcomes. Additionally, the purpose is to support the school-university partnership(s), who will be introduced to the ÐÜèÊÓƵSUPR SIG community and might present their research at the upcoming ÐÜèÊÓƵAnnual Meeting. The partnership can be between a K-12 teacher and university professor, a school and/or school district and university, or multiple school districts and a consortium of universities.

School-university partnerships may apply for this award. The partnership must include a K-12 school(s) and a university. If awarded, all team members will be invited to attend the SUPR SIG business meeting. At least one member of the research project team is expected to attend ÐÜèÊÓƵand present the research at the SUPR SIG business meeting.

WHO MAY APPLY?

P‑12 teacher(s) and administrator(s) may apply in conjunction with their college/university colleagues. P‑12 applicants must be involved with the research/inquiry project from inception to the presentation of findings. If accepted, at least one member of the research project must attend the next ÐÜèÊÓƵAnnual Meeting and the SUPR SIG's Business Meeting to receive the award. At least one member of the collaborative research project must be an ÐÜèÊÓƵSUPR SIG member.

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. School-University partnership contribution to research: we recognize a variety of school-university partnerships including teacher residencies, research-to-practice partnerships, community schools, Professional Development Schools, collaborations between schools and universities, and many more; research can take the form of published articles and/or grants. The quality and quantity of publications and grant productivity from the partnership will be considered, the partnership should be bounded and clearly defined

2. Investigation of an issue(s) that impact student outcomes and/or the teaching profession. The nature of the research will be evaluated for its support of these goals

3. Demonstrate an ongoing interest in collaborative research between schools and universities, focusing on developing teachers as researchers through professional development, joint inquiry, action research, and community-engaged research. Partnerships should have been established for at least one year. The partnership must include both PK-12 and school-based teacher educators and must convey how PK-12 educators participated in the research process

APPLICATION

To apply for the Claudia A. Balach School-University Partnership Award, please provide the following:

- Title of submission

- Corresponding researcher/author

- Affiliation

- Mailing address

- Email address

- Name, role, and affiliation for each member of the research team

- A description of your research partnership that addresses the three criteria above. The application narrative may not exceed 2,000 words. Include the names, affiliations, and contact information of all researchers/authors.

Submit electronically to the SIG Secretary.

DEADLINE

All applications must be received by January 1. Announcements will be made by February 15 each year.