University of Michigan - Flint

UM Flint & Westwood Heights Initiative

The University of Michigan-Flint and the Westwood Heights School District, bordering Flint to the northwest, have formed an exciting partnership that will allow for collaboration between the university and K-12 teachers and administrators. Through the partnership, UM-Flint staff works closely with the entire Westwood Heights learning community, including administrators, teachers, staff, students and families to support the district's efforts to:

• establish engaging and challenging curriculum
• provide professional development for teachers and staff
• connect with parents, families, and caregivers
• include the entire community
• provide opportunities to help students succeed in higher education
• meet or exceed all state and national standards for every student
• implement collaborative, progressive and inclusive programs that will benefit students and their families

The Dean of UM-Flint's School of Education and Human Services, Susanne Chandler, views the partnership as a win-win situation: "We are proud of the work of the Westwood Heights teachers. We feel strongly that they are a wonderful example for the student teachers we are training at UM-Flint."

UM-Flint faculty work collaboratively with their Westwood Heights School District partners on research initiatives that seek to improve teaching and learning for all students and to redefine the meaning of student success.

The university hosts internships and classes at the Westwood Heights District, as a K-12 laboratory, which provides a hands-on setting for UM-Flint pre-service teachers. Social Work faculty and students collaborate with the district's counselors and families to provide a network of support.