Something to Think About: Reflections on an Emerging International Partnership

• In Event: Leveraging School-University Partnership Research for School Improvement

Abstract

The word “partnership” implies a level of commitment and collaboration from all partners, as well as the expectation that all partners will receive some benefit from their collaboration. International partnerships between universities and P-12 schools can benefit all stakeholders including student teachers, professors and classroom teachers. This qualitative descriptive study describes an emerging international partnership between a P-12 school in West Africa and a department of teacher education in the Midwestern US. Reflective journals, interviews, and archival data serve as data examining the challenges and benefits of this emerging partnership. Findings suggest professional development and opportunities to learn from one another provided rich experiences to grow professionally and salient insights into how to better foster the partnership.

Authors

• Lenore Kinne, Northern Kentucky University

• Michael DiCicco, Northern Kentucky University

• Bevelyn Asamoah, Volta River Schools