In the fall of 2024, a unique and intentional partnership between Missouri State University and Mark Twain Elementary was launched. This collaboration aims to enhance the preparation of future educators while offering valuable resources and support to the teachers and students at Mark Twain Elementary. The journey to this collaboration, its structure, and its aspirations provide a compelling model for impactful educational partnerships.

The foundation of the partnership

This partnership began in February 2024, when Dr. Amber Howard, Dean’s Fellow at MSU, started collaborating with Blaine Broderick, principal of Mark Twain Elementary. They worked closely to create a mutually beneficial framework, meeting frequently to finalize plans. This effort followed a year-long initiative by Dr. Howard and MSU’s Competency-Based Learning (CBL) team to identify a suitable school partner and develop a collaborative approach. By the fall semester, the partnership was in full swing, with MSU faculty teaching classes at Twain and students gaining invaluable classroom experience.

Motivation and vision

The partnership stems from a broader initiative to support the implementation of CBL in schools as part of a Dean’s Fellowship project. “Our college students being able to work with early childhood and elementary students to apply the skills they are learning feels more directly connected to what they want to do with their careers, so it is really exciting for them,” shared Dr. Stacie Finley, highlighting the transformative impact of connecting theory to practice.

Initial efforts revealed the need for clarity and consistency in how CBL is introduced and practiced. Additionally, MSU recognized the dual benefits of placing education majors in classrooms earlier and more frequently: it not only enhances their readiness to lead their own classrooms but also provides schools with additional support for students and access to a pool of well-prepared, familiar teacher candidates.

Mark Twain Elementary was a natural fit for this partnership. Principal Broderick, an MSU alum, and his team’s commitment to fostering a supportive, collaborative environment aligned perfectly with MSU’s goals. For Dr. Howard, who spearheaded the partnership, Twain holds a special place as the first school where she felt truly at home as a teacher.

Structure and implementation

In the fall semester, five MSU faculty members taught portions of their courses at Mark Twain Elementary as part of this partnership:

• Dr. Stacie Finley: LTC 318 Foundations of Literacy Instruction
• Dr. Diana Piccolo: ELE 429 Math Methods
• Dr. Tammi Davis: ELE 425 Writing Methods
• Dr. Amber Howard: ELE 500 Current Issues in Elementary Education
• Ellen Fogle: ELE 500 Current Issues in Elementary Education

These classes directly connect theoretical knowledge with practical application. For example:

• Dr. Finley’s literacy class pairs MSU students with 22 Twain students for one-on-one tutoring sessions.
• Dr. Davis’s writing methods course includes a pen pal project where MSU students correspond weekly with 21 second-grade pen pals at Twain, analyzing writing and building meaningful connections.
• Dr. Piccolo’s math methods students observe lessons in seven classrooms and design interactive math activities as their final projects.

MSU’s ELE 500 students also participate in 130-hour internships, spending one full day per week at Twain. These internships, required for all education degrees at MSU, far exceed the state’s minimum requirements, reflecting MSU’s commitment to comprehensive teacher preparation.

Fostering growth for all participants

The partnership is designed to benefit both the MSU students and the Twain community. By immersing MSU students in classrooms earlier and often, the program bridges the gap between academic preparation and the realities of teaching. “I haven’t been with this young of an age in my entire college experience. I loved how excited they were to learn and to meet me. It was a prime example of why I chose this career to begin with,” shared a student after completing the semester. According to student reflections, the experience has been transformative, reigniting their passion for teaching and reinforcing their career aspirations.

Twain’s teachers and students also gain significant advantages. Students receive personalized attention through tutoring and pen pal projects, while teachers appreciate the additional support and collaboration.

“I love the Missouri State professors I get to work with and I’ve always had hard-working MSU students,” said one of the Twain teachers with students in the penpal program.

Looking ahead, the partnership aims to expand its impact by offering professional development (PD) opportunities for Twain’s teachers, with a focus on equity in assessment and the principles of CBL.

Expanding the model

The success of this partnership is paving the way for similar collaborations. This semester, Dr. Howard and faculty are duplicating the Twain partnership with Disney Elementary. Dr. Lori Elliott, the principal, has already welcomed MSU interns in the past and expressed enthusiasm for deeper collaboration through hosting literacy and methods courses this semester. The plan for these partnerships includes having two elementary schools where ELE and ECE students can see a model of the best practices they learn about in their college courses while also integrating PD sessions for the schools to support the district’s transition to CBL.

The partnership between MSU and Mark Twain Elementary exemplifies the power of intentional collaboration. By aligning the needs and goals of both institutions, it creates a mutually enriching environment where future educators and current practitioners learn and grow together. As the partnership evolves, its potential to shape the future of education in Springfield Public Schools, and schools across Missouri, is immense. Through shared dedication to supporting students, teachers, and schools, MSU and its partners are building a brighter future for education.