SASUP 8th Annual Conference
School-University Partnerships– Lighting the Way
The Southeastern Association of School-University Partnerships (SASUP) is pleased to hold its eighth annual conference at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Hilton Head Island campus October 18–19, 2024. The purpose of the conference is to provide a space for dialogue and discovery about genuine collaborative partnerships between P-12 institutions and institutions of higher education. Presentations address at least one of the following five strands:
Preparation of Teacher Candidates
Preparation and Development of Teacher Leaders
Preparation and Development of School Leaders and Leadership Pipelines
Collaboration between P-12 Educators and IHEs
P-12 Student Learning
Research That Informs the Field
Within each of these strands, we expect presenters to address the conference theme: School-University Partnerships – Lighting the Way. Effective school-university partnerships light the way toward collaborative efforts to realize positive outcomes for students, teacher candidates, teacher leaders, and school leaders enhanced capacity to ensure resilience and sustainability, and exemplary programs and practices to advance the education profession through partnerships.
School-university partnerships engage multiple, diverse constituent groups in work on behalf of schoolchildren and the professionals who serve them. These collaborative efforts advance the common good through learning communities designed “to improve student learning, prepare educators through clinical practice, engage in reciprocal professional learning, and conduct shared inquiry” (NASUP Mission). For example, How does your partnership embrace diversity and foster collaboration? How does your partnership promote the “common good” while operating in a context of political divisions, economic uncertainty, and wavering public confidence in the school system?
School-university partnerships help enhance capacity to weather changing conditions in education. Some changes are seasonal, such as the predictable ebbs and flows of the school year that include the opening and closing of school, scheduled testing, celebrations and ceremonies, and other regularly occurring calendar items. Some changes present like storms that arise and bring unwanted or unanticipated obstacles, disruptions, and distractions. Partners can plan and prepare for storms and anticipate their arrival when clouds form on the horizon. Squalls, on the other hand, can arise without any warning, requiring partners to decisively and immediately respond in the moment. How does your partnership add to or enhance capacity for constituents? How do you ensure your partnership is resilient and will be sustainable in the future?
Strong, sustained school-university partnerships are beacons of hope for the education profession. They serve as exemplars of what is possible when schools, school districts, IHEs, and the surrounding community come together to ensure excellence in education. Partnerships serve as incubators of innovation where new knowledge about practice is generated each day. What exemplary programs and practices can your partnership share with others? How has your partnership been innovative and creative in advancing its mission?
Questions about the conference? Contact Dr. Melissa Baker at mbaker@sc.edu
Hilton Head Island Campus
1 Sand Shark Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
October 18-19, 2024
Hosted by the University of South Carolina Beaufort
Two-day early bird conference rate—$125.
CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Hotel Options
Spark by Hilton Hilton Head Island
Marriott Courtyard Hilton Head Island
Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa, Hilton Head Island
About SASUP
SASUP is a non-profit professional organization which provides resources, professional development and advocacy for the Professional Development School model in teacher education. An annual SASUP conference functions to support and advocate for collaborative partnerships across the P-12 and IHE community as a center for inquiry that leads to the discovery and sharing of knowledge that shapes educator practice and leadership.