Who We Are
Housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the School Success Center (SSC) brings together UD’s renowned Professional Development Center for Educators and Delaware Academy for School Leadership.
With a systemic approach to improving student and school outcomes, the SSC is composed of experts in educator and school leader professional development who partner with teachers and administrators in public, charter and independent schools throughout Delaware and across the nation.
SSC Goals
The SSC works to provide innovative and evidence-based solutions to the complex challenges facing the Delaware K-12 education community by:
- Partnering with districts and schools to provide high-quality profesional learning and coaching on systemic challenges related to instructional leadership and climate/culture/equity.
- Enhancing the systemic lens of leadership and content specialist services UD provides to schools
- Increasing partnerships with underserved public and charter schools
Why the SSC?
Educational interventions in schools sometimes fail because professional development often takes separate approaches to supporting educators and school leaders.The SSC is unique in partnering with both teachers and administrators on the same improvement strategies to ensure that teachers, schools and districts grow together. In addition to providing differentiated coaching services for school and district leaders, throughout their careers, SSC offers expert-facilitated professional learning programs in literacy and math instruction for educators.
The School Success Center is complemented by a full portfolio
of UD teacher and school leader preparation programs, offered by UD’s College of Education & Human Development.
Teachers of Tomorrow
CEHD’s Teachers of Tomorrow pipeline program introduces high school juniors and seniors to UD’s teacher education programs through an immersive, two-week summer institute. The program seeks to better prepare high schoolers for careers in teaching by allowing them to directly experience the academic, social and relational aspects of college life.
High School Recruiter
Seated within UD’s Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation, this position will actively engage high school students in UD teacher preparation programs. It will establish partnerships with Delaware high schools, conduct recruitment activities and develop a community of support among Delaware education agencies and school districts.
Dean’s Teacher Pipeline Scholarship Fund
The Dean’s Teacher Pipeline Scholarship eases the financial barriers to education and promotes access to high-quality teacher education programs for prospective CEHD students.
Associate, Bachelor’s, 4+1
CEHD offers associate and bachelor’s-level teacher preparation degree programs, including 4+1 tracks that allow UD students to complete a master’s degree with only one additional year of study.
Teacher Residency Program
The UD Teacher Residency Program (UDTR) closely follows the NCTR residency model. It blends a rigorous full-year classroom apprenticeship for pre-service teachers with a carefully aligned sequence of academic coursework. Building on the medical residency model, teacher residency programs provide residents with both the underlying theory and evidence-based practices of effective teaching and a year-long, in-school “residency” in which they practice and hone their skills and knowledge alongside an effective teacher-mentor in a high-need classroom. New teacher residents receive stipends as they learn to teach, and commit to teaching in their districts for three years beyond the residency.
Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation
UD’s Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation provides support services for students and faculty in 28 educator preparation programs at UD, and is the home of the Alternative Routes to Certification program, the Office of Clinical Studies and the Office of Certification and Accreditation.
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
CEHD offers a doctorate degree in educational leadership preparing graduates to make research-informed, evidence-based decisions within their schools and districts.
Governor’s Institute for School Leadership
In partnership with the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Governor’s Office and Delaware school districts and public schools, UD’s Governor’s Institute for School Leadership offers professional development and mentoring for assistant principals, principal supervisors and superintendents.
Principal Preparation Program
UD’s Principal Preparation Program provides professional development necessary for assistant principal and principal certification in Delaware.
Center for Disabilities Studies
The UD Center for Disabilities Studies partners with the Delaware Department of Education to provide coaching and professional development to educators through the ACCESS (Adapting Curriculum and Classroom Environments for Student Success) program, the DE-PBS (Delaware Positive Behavior Support) project and the SEAL (Special Education Administrative Leadership) program to help students with disabilities reach their potential in inclusive learning environments.