Mission Statement

The Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal promotes the simultaneous renewal of schools and the education of educators through a collaboration between and among Montclair State University and member school districts as equal partners. The Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal seeks to balance self-interest and selflessness in the provision of teacher preparation, professional development, curricular development and research. Through an emphasis on critical thinking, the Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal strives to provide the best possible education for all students, enabling them to make good judgments and to become contributing citizens in a social and political democracy.

Goal 1: We will move forward in our commitment to teaching for critical thinking as an educational ideal.

Goal 2: We will consider what it means to make a commitment for all teachers to work to enculturate the young as citizens in our political and social democracy and to examine the moral implications of teaching.

Goal 3: We will work to prepare teachers who see themselves as stewards of best practice and who understand the nature of change within the institutions in which they work.

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What Does It Mean to Be a Member of the MSUNER?

When a district joins the MSUNER, it makes a commitment to work toward achieving the mission and goals of the Network. This also means accepting (and giving priority to) Montclair State University pre-service teachers for field placements and student teaching and working with colleagues from Montclair State University and other member districts to effect change and renewal in schools and in teacher education. Member districts agree to pay annual dues.

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What Does Membership in the MSUNER Mean for Teachers?

Teachers in member districts can apply to the University for appointment as Clinical Faculty members. This process includes filling out an application, writing a statement about working in teacher education and teaching for critical thinking, and getting a recommendation from one's principal. We are looking for teachers who see themselves as learners as well as teachers, who want to share their expertise and nurture junior faculty members, and who see critical thinking as central to their work with students.

Once appointed, Clinical Faculty members can serve as cooperating teachers, on-site education mentors, co-facilitators of workshops, co-teachers of student teaching seminars, and adjunct faculty for other courses at the University. They also have campus privileges including general parking, library cards, and access to the Curriculum Resource Center.

Each member district appoints a district coordinator (usually a teacher) who receives an honorarium from the Network to serve as a liaison between the district and the Network. The district coordinator also represents the district on an Operations Committee that helps plan Network events. The policy-making body of the Network is the Executive Committee which consists of district office representatives from each district, representatives from the University, and the Network director.

For many Clinical Faculty members, the opportunity to meet, work, and study with colleagues from other districts who share their professionalism and commitment is a major benefit of membership in the MSUNER.

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How Does the Network Contribute to School Renewal?

The MSUNER is a registered provider for the New Jersey 100 hour requirement and it offers an extensive array of professional development opportunities for Clinical Faculty. These include two semesters per year of after-school mini-courses, a Conference/Summer Institute at the end of June, a Leadership Associates Program during the summer, and funding for Teacher Study Groups and Teacher Incentive Grants in each member district. In addition, other grant funded professional development programs are usually available.

New Clinical Faculty members are required to take three mini-courses during their first two years in the Network. These are Teaching for Critical Thinking, Mentoring/Coaching Strategies, and Culturally Responsive Teaching. In order to maintain University appointment, Clinical Faculty members must participate in at least one MSUNER professional development activity every two years, and must be willing to work with a Montclair State student at least once every three years.

Each member district is entitled to ten (10) hours of Montclair State University faculty consultation. Many districts use this benefit to offer professional development workshops in the schools. Another benefit of MSUNER membership is the opportunity for teachers, administrators, and supervisors to network with other educators who are working toward renewal, by sharing ideas and expertise.

Finally, because the MSUNER is a member of two of the foremost national school and teacher education renewal movements (the National Network for Educational Renewal and NEA's Teacher Education Initiative), MSUNER members have the opportunity to participate in national conferences and forums devoted to school and teacher education renewal.

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How Do Member Districts and Clinical Faculty Contribute to Teacher Education Renewal?

The importance of field-based teacher education to the overall quality and success of teacher education cannot be overestimated. Within the next few years, we hope to place most of our student teachers in Network schools with Clinical Faculty. This means our student teachers can learn from experienced teachers who understand and exemplify teaching for critical thinking. Hopefully, it will also enable us to place our student teachers in schools where teachers collaborate with one another, take reflection seriously, understand the moral dimensions of teaching, and see themselves as learners as well as teachers.

We try to place cohorts of teacher education students in schools where there are a number of Clinical Faculty members. In this way, student teachers can truly become junior faculty members. In many MSUNER member schools, Clinical Faculty meet regularly as a group with junior faculty members to discuss important issues of teaching and learning and mentoring. This climate of professionalism and spirit of inquiry contribute to the renewal of schools and teacher education.

In addition, Clinical Faculty from member schools serve on committees and task forces at the University, thus adding their valuable input into the renewal and development of the teacher education program at Montclair State.

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Membership Responsibilities for Member Districts