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By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥’s Professional Development Schools program is routinely lauded for the teacher candidates that progress through the program and succeed in their own classrooms upon graduation.

Two seniors in SU’s Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education - Emily Ellis of, Sykesville MD, and Claudia Reynolds of Elkton, MD – recently were recognized by the National Association for School-University Partnerships (NASUP) as 2025 Emerging SUP Leader Award winners at the NASUP conference in New Orleans. The award recognizes students for their work in school-university partnerships and in local clinical practice placements. At the conference, they also facilitated a workshop for attendees.

As a team, Reynolds and Ellis have served as Seidel School student support coordinators in Dean Laurie Henry’s office since January 2023. Their tasks have included engaging with faculty, staff, faculty candidates, University leadership, potential students and their families, school and district leaders, donors, and nationally acclaimed guest speakers.

They also have worked to help prospective education students during open houses and admitted student days, and through phone calls and emails, answering questions from a student perspective to help future students determine whether Seidel School is the right fit for them. They have continued that advocacy once those prospective students have enrolled and begun their time at SU, as well.

“While other individuals have previously served in this role, Emily and Claudia were the first to consider how to use this platform to uplift prospective and practicing teachers and their students,” said Henry. “They are an inspiration to their fellow teacher candidates as they encouraged them to join our Educator’s Rising Collegiate Chapter and volunteered for board positions for this student led organization.”

While their leadership skills and efforts as student support coordinators were a large part of their consideration for their NASUP honors, the pair also excel in the classroom – both at SU and at their partner schools.

As part of her nomination, Ellis was lauded by Antionette Perry, principal of West ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Elementary for “her natural talent for building meaningful relationships with both students and staff, coupled with her unwavering dedication.”

Reynolds received similar praise from Kimberly Pinhey, principal of North ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ School, for being “an exceptional addition to the magnet program as an intern in Mrs. Lewis's fourth-grade classroom. Her vibrant personality and genuine passion for education have not only inspired the students but have also made her a valued member of the teaching team.”

Ellis and Reynolds are the third and fourth SU students to receive the Emerging PDS Award. Previous SU recipients include Emma Reider (2021) and Shelby Ennis (2018). This marks the first time NASUP has awarded two students from the same university in a given year, marking the remarkable team work Ellis and Reynolds have shown.

SU maintains a network of 43 professional development school sites in seven districts. The Maryland State Department of Education requires that all student teaching internships take place in PDS sites, believing that mutually supportive partnerships between higher education and public schools are essential for providing high quality clinical experiences for aspiring teachers. 

NASUP is the pre-eminent national organization supporting and advancing school-university collaboration. It serves as an advocate for the continuous development of PreK-12/higher education/community relationships.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.