1. School-University Partnerships: Power of complementarity Joseph P. McDonald New York University Robert Miller University Neighborhood High School American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting San Diego April 2009

2. Two Claims Complementarity arises from paired institutional traits that under the right circumstances balance asset and deficit. The power of complementarity is the power to lend a necessarily joint enterprise (for example, teacher education) adventurousness and continuity.

3. University v. School Theoretical Very Loosely coupled Grounded Increasingly Tightly coupled

4. University v. School SkepticalSkeptical StableStable ResoluteResolute UnsettledUnsettled

5. University v. School TraditionalTraditional PrestigiousPrestigious Comparatively lots of resource slackComparatively lots of resource slack ExperimentalExperimental Under threatUnder threat Comparatively little resource slackComparatively little resource slack

6. What is needed to Tap the Power of Complementarity? 1.Championship 2.Interpretation 3.Contact 4.Formal Agreement 5.Action space

7. 1. Championship Champions with clout on both sidesChampions with clout on both sides Aware of the culture gapAware of the culture gap Appreciate the value of the university’s social capital, and of the school’s grounding.Appreciate the value of the university’s social capital, and of the school’s grounding. Speak well of the otherSpeak well of the other

8. 2. Interpretation Bi-cultural liaisons on both sidesBi-cultural liaisons on both sides Return each other’s phone callsReturn each other’s phone calls Show up in each other’s worldShow up in each other’s world Feel empowered in each other’s worldFeel empowered in each other’s world Scout opportunities for mutual self-interestScout opportunities for mutual self-interest Expect and handle problemsExpect and handle problems Interpret one world to the otherInterpret one world to the other

9. 3. Contact Critical mass of interning professionalsCritical mass of interning professionals Research involvementResearch involvement Shared spaceShared space Service on each other’s committeesService on each other’s committees

10. 4. Formal agreement To operate in mutual self-interestTo operate in mutual self-interest To exchange liaisonsTo exchange liaisons To scout needs and resources on both sidesTo scout needs and resources on both sides To license each other’s use of the relationshipTo license each other’s use of the relationship To work toward critical mass in contactTo work toward critical mass in contact To expect sustainability, but exit gracefully at either partner’s choosingTo expect sustainability, but exit gracefully at either partner’s choosing

11. 5. Action Space Something of mutual interest and obvious importance is at stake.Something of mutual interest and obvious importance is at stake. A community of reliable inquiry has formed.A community of reliable inquiry has formed. Multiple sources of knowledge and intuition are brought to bear.Multiple sources of knowledge and intuition are brought to bear. Resources are committed.Resources are committed. A strong sense of we develops.A strong sense of we develops.

12. Example of Action Space Co-teaching Inquiries into Teaching & Learning in NYC schools Introductory course for all NYU aspiring teachers Co-taught by NYU faculty or doctoral students, and NYC teachers appointed as NYU adjunct faculty Taught in high-needs schools Up to 28 sections a year