Background
The Walter and Daisy Carson Latham Clinical Schools Network is a partnership between East Carolina University and 34 public school systems in eastern North Carolina.  The school systems include: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Clinton City, Craven, Cumberland, Dare, Duplin, Edenton-Chowan, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash/Rocky Mount, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Roanoke Rapids, Sampson, Tyrrell, Washington, Weldon City, Wayne and Wilson. Within the network, there are approximately 564 schools with over 22,500 teachers who participate in partnership efforts.   The network has been in existence since the 1996-1997 academic year, when all teacher education programs were restructured from a 10-week student teaching requirement to a year-long Senior Year Experience.

What are the key functions of the Latham Clinical Schools Network?

• Provides a network in which public schools and East Carolina University can collaborate
  
• Seeks to enhance recruitment, retention, and renewal of teachers from pre-service to in-service
  
• Provides quality field placements and clinical experiences for teacher education candidates
  
• Facilitates the implementation of innovative practices and new initiatives in both public schools and universities
  

• Provides continuous professional development for public school and university partners

 What are the benefits of the Latham Clinical Schools Network?

• Collaborative power of 34 public school systems and the largest teacher preparation institution in the State of North Carolina
  
• Quality field placements for pre-service teachers with trained clinical teachers in diverse public school settings
  
• A shared responsibility for the recruitment, induction, retention, and renewal of teachers in eastern North Carolina
  
• Authentic clinical experiences in which university faculty, public school faculty, teacher education candidates and public school students can interact

 Latham Clinical Schools Network Distinguishing Features

• Over 600 Senior Year Experience interns placed within the Network
  
• Over 2500 undergraduate practicum students placed within the Network
  
• "Latham Awards for Excellence in Teaching" Medals and $1500.00 cash awards given to four graduating teacher education seniors
  
• Clinical Schools Network Training Sessions for faculty and clinical teachers
  
• Clinical Teacher Conference for clinical teachers and university faculty annually
  
• Professional Development Sessions for clinical teachers and faculty on a variety of topics

The Walter and Daisy Carson Latham Clinical Schools Network
East Carolina University
109 Speight Building
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6051
252-328-2361

* Located in Sampson County
** Located in Halifax County