Developing Systems for High-Quality Feedback to Teacher Candidates: Lessons Learned from 11 California State University Teacher Preparation Programs

This paper shares information and lessons learned from sites that are attempting to transform their teacher preparation systems toward practice-based approaches that feature high-quality feedback for teacher candidates. The paper is based on qualitative data collected from 2016 through 2018 in 11 sites where partnerships between California State University (CSU) teacher preparation programs and local school districts are working to improve how they prepare new teachers. Each partnership received a grant from the New Generation of Educators Initiative (NGEI)

Building Strong Partnerships to Improve Clinically Oriented Teacher Preparation

Educators and policymakers across the United States recognize a growing urgency to improve the nation's systems of teacher preparation. Ensuring that teachers stay and thrive in the profession depends largely on having system-wide policies and practices in place that address teacher shortages, promote equity and excellence, and cultivate expertise, diversity, and more.The California State University (CSU) system partnered with the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation to launch the New Generation of Educators Initiative (NGEI), in an effort to transform the nature and quality of teacher preparation at both individual CSU campuses and across the CSU system as a whole. To answer the question, "What does it take to transform teacher education?" WestEd and SRI International conducted an evaluation to examine and share learnings about the CSU-led effort to implement large-scale clinically oriented teacher preparation reform.As part of a series of new evaluation reports that explore key transformational elements of effective teacher preparation programs, this paper describes how participating CSU campuses and their partner school districts strengthened their relationships and developed strategic partnerships to establish the necessary foundations for high-quality, clinically oriented programming.This paper identifies four levers that can be operationalized in order to sustain strong partnerships between stakeholders:Lever 1: Create and operationalize a shared visionLever 2: Identify key rolesLever 3: Ensure space and time to collaborateLever 4: Share data to identify needs and monitor progres

Serum cytokine profile of neonatal broiler chickens infected with Salmonella Typhimurium

The avian immune system responds to Salmonella infection by expressing cytokines and chemokines. We hypothesized that the immune status of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) challenged neonatal broilers would differ from the uninfected treatment. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate 12 cytokines. Day of hatch male chicks were randomly allocated into a control or ST challenged group. At day three of age, sterile diluent or 5.0 × 108 CFU of ST was given orally to each chick. Blood was obtained 24 h post challenge and serum separated for later analysis (n = 30 chicks/treatment). Significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines-interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-16, and IL-21; anti-inflammatory cytokines- IL-10; chemokines-regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), and MIP-3α; colony stimulating factors-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF); and growth factors-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were observed in the serum of the challenged chicks when compared to the control. No significant differences were observed in IL-2, interferon gamma (IFNγ), and IFNα. These data indicate the detection of mucosal immune responses in broiler chickens following ST infection. The heightened levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and colony stimulating factors align with known inflammatory mechanisms, like the influx of immune cells. However, the elevation of IL-10 was unexpected, due to its immunoregulatory properties. Notably, the rise in VEGF levels is compelling, as it suggests the possibility of tissue repair and angiogenesis in ST infected birds

The NGEI Approach to Improving Teacher Preparation in the CSU Through a System of Supports

Educators and policymakers across the United States recognize a growing urgency to improve the nation's systems of teacher preparation. Ensuring that teachers stay and thrive in the profession depends largely on having system-wide policies and practices in place that address teacher shortages, promote equity and excellence, and cultivate expertise, diversity, and more.The California State University (CSU) system partnered with the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation to launch the New Generation of Educators Initiative (NGEI), in an effort to transform the nature and quality of teacher preparation at both individual CSU campuses and across the CSU system as a whole. To answer the question, "What does it take to transform teacher education?" WestEd and SRI International conducted an evaluation to examine and share learnings about the CSU-led effort to implement large-scale clinically oriented teacher preparation reform.As part of a series of new evaluation reports that explore key transformational elements of effective teacher preparation programs, this paper reviews the evolution of a system of support for NGEI campuses that included targeted grant requirements, coaching and technical assistance, and a learning community to help partnerships share problems of practice. The following levers supported NGEI campuses to undergo rapid transformation, while implementing reforms in systematic, sustainable, and context-specific ways:Lever 1: Balance grant requirements with flexibility and responsive supportLever 2: Customize technical assistance support to meet partnership needsLever 3: Embed opportunities for cross-networked learning and collaboratio

Competitive Exclusion of Intra-Genus <i>Salmonella</i> in Neonatal Broilers

Salmonellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by Salmonella enterica serotypes contracted from contaminated products. We hypothesized that competitive exclusion between Salmonella serotypes in neonatal broilers would reduce colonization and affect the host immune response. Day of hatch broilers were randomly allocated to one of six treatment groups: (1) control, which received saline, (2) Salmonella Kentucky (SK) only on day 1 (D1), (3) Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) or Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) only on D1, (4) SK on D1 then ST or SE on day 2 (D2), (5) ST or SE on D1 then SK on D2, and (6) SK and ST or SE concurrently on D1. Salmonella gut colonization and incidence were measured from cecal contents. Livers and spleens were combined and macerated to determine systemic translocation. Relative mRNA levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) were measured in cecal tonsils and liver to investigate local and systemic immune responses. When a serotype was administered first, it was able to significantly reduce colonization of the following serotype. Significant changes were found in mRNA expression of cytokines. These results suggest competitive exclusion by Salmonella enterica serotypes affect local and systemic immune responses

Evaluation of Sodium Bisulfate on Reducing Salmonella Heidelberg Biofilm and Colonization in Broiler Crops and Ceca

Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) on contaminated poultry causes economic and health risks to producers and consumers. We hypothesized that sodium bisulfate (SBS) would decrease SH biofilm on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coupons and decrease the horizontal transfer of SH in broilers. Experiment 1: Salmonella Heidelberg biofilm was cultured with PVC coupons, which were treated with SBS at a pH of 3.5 for 10 min, 8 h, and 24 h. Experiment 2: Nine replicate pens per treatment were divided between two rooms. A seeder contact model was used to mimic a natural infection environment. Treatments consisted of tap water or sodium bisulfate in water at a pH of 3.5. Salmonella Heidelberg incidence and enumeration were measured in crops and ceca. Sodium bisulfate significantly reduced biofilm by 2.16 and 1.04 logs when treated for 8 and 24 h, respectively. Crop colonization was significantly decreased in trials 1 and 2 by 0.29 and 0.23 logs, respectively. Crop pH was significantly decreased in trial 2. Ceca colonization was significantly decreased in trial 1 by 0.39 logs. The results from the present study suggest that SBS may be administered to drinking water to decrease SH gut colonization and to reduce biofilm