at

Stanley British Primary School

DENVER, COLORADO
in partnership with
THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE
Accredited by the State of Colorado
Member: Association of Colorado Independent Schools, National Association of Independent Schools
TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM
350 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80230 303/360-0803, ext. 183 FAX 303/360-0353
st anl ey@st anl eybps. org
www. st anl eybps. org
T H E I N T E R N E X P E R I E N C E A T S T A N L E Y B P S
The Teacher Preparation Program at Stanley BPS has been invaluable for putting into formal terms all that I have witnessed
at Stanley. It asks of us what we ask of the children: to think for ourselves, to experience new and exciting materials and
methods, and to make appropriate choices. I have felt inspired by very good speakers and also by the discussions among my
fellow students. The school has brought together an intelligent, diverse and highly motivated group.
Steve Goldner-de Beer, University of York, England, Linguistics and French
The program gives us much more responsibility than a university education program could. The emphasis is on practice,
which is best, but we also study and formulate theory. It is an effective and challenging way to discover ourselves as teachers.
Chris Weaver, University of Colorado at Boulder, Religious Studies
The experience at Stanley BPS has been, and will continue to be, the cornerstone of my personal development as a teacher
as well as my continuing development as an individual. The hands-on approach to learning, the fundamental tenet at
Stanley, is refected beautifully in my actual working with a mentor teacher. I begin to learn about the art of teaching by
directly participating in the process itself; thereby allowing myself the opportunity to construct my own meaningful ideas
about teaching, learning and education. I am ecstatic to be a part of such a wonderful learning atmosphere!
Taylor Webb, Berkeley College, Philosophy
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE &INNOVATION
Stanley British Primary School is a private elementary
school with a state-wide reputation for educational
leadership. Stanley BPS is a model in the Rocky
Mountain region for integrated curriculum, for
child-centered, individualized teaching practice,
and for a constructivist, experience-based approach
to education.
Stanley BPS is a school where a foundation for
passionate, life-long learning is established. Stanley
BPSs teachers respect children. They help students to
develop to their full potential intellectually, socially,
emotionally, physically, and creatively. Stanley BPS is
characterized by economic and racial diversity, by
democratic governance, and by an extraordinary
degree of parental involvement.
A B O U T O U R S C H O O L
OUR PUBLIC OUTREACHMISSION
Stanley BPS is deeply involved in training elementary
school teachers. Each year, over 40 teacher interns begin
the Stanley BPS Teacher Preparation Program. They work
alongside mentor teachers in a junior partnership role.
Interns usually have two placements over the year: the
frst semester may be at Stanley BPS and the following
semester at one of Stanley BPS Teacher Preparation
Programs public school sister sites or at a nearby
preschool.
Public School Partnerships: Denver Public Schools
In 1992, Stanley British Primary School formed a
partnership with the Denver Public Schools to
establish British Primary programs in urban
elementary schools. The British Primary teachers in
these schools are graduates of the Stanley BPS Teacher
Preparation Program and now mentor Stanley BPS
interns in their classrooms.
Early Childhood Partnership: Paddington Station Preschool
Stanley BPS has a strong partnership with Paddington
Station Preschool which serves the needs of children
ages two through fve. Paddington and Stanley BPS have
similar philosophies, and both enjoy an active parent
participation program.
T H E T E A C H E R P R E P A R A T I O N P R O G R A M
ANINNOVATIVE APPROACHTO TEACHER PREPARATION
Classroom Teaching Experience
Intern teachers work full time in the classroom for one
year. They are given two semester-long placements with
two different mentor teachers. Intern teachers take on
steadily increasing responsibilities as their skills and
confdence grow. They start the year working with small
groups of children and end the year capable of managing
the entire class. Intern teachers receive on-going feedback
and support from their mentor teachers and educational
advisors. Interns participate in all aspects of the teaching
process. They learn to help children with a wide range
of abilities and learning styles and to celebrate diversity
within the classroom. They learn how to work as partners
with parents and to participate in school governance and
collaborative decision-making.
Educational Coursework
Coursework begins in August and continues throughout
the school year. Interns meet weekly for lectures, hands-
on workshops, and active discussions in which they pose
questions and examine educational issues with reference
to their own experiences in the classroom. The courses
are taught by program staff, education professors from
the University of Colorado Denver and by teachers from
local private and public schools.
LICENSURE &DEGREE OFFERINGS
Colorado Teaching License
Stanley British Primary School, in conjunction with the
Colorado Department of Education, offers Stanley BPS
Teacher Preparation Program interns a State Licensure
(Certifcation) Program. Interns receive credit for their
full-time work in the classroom and for the seminars that
interns attend on Thursday afternoons. Interns have the
option of pursuing an Early Childhood or Elementary
License. The license enables graduates of the program to
teach in any K-6 public school in Colorado.
Sue Sava, Director of the Teacher Preparation Program
University of Colorado Masters Degree
Stanley BPS has a long-standing partnership with
the University of Colorado Denver (UCD).
Participants in the Stanley BPS Teacher
Preparation Program can choose to complete a
Masters degree in Education at UCD. Interns
deciding to pursue the Masters degree receive 15
hours of graduate credit for their classroom
teaching experience and weekly coursework.
They need 21 hours of additional coursework at
UCD to complete the Masters degree. The UCD
coursework can be taken during the two summers
following the internship. The UCD Masters
degree is available in either Early Childhood
Education or in Educational Psychology.
Applications to the UCD Graduate School are
due in the fall of the intern year.