History Of Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School

Since its start in 1882 as a training school on the site of the Los Angeles Central Library, UES has come to be recognized as a national educational resource. In its first years, UES was an integral part of the California State Normal School, which trained teachers for public schools. In 1919, when the Normal School became the Southern Branch of the University of California, UES was made a part of the new university. The school moved to its current home on the UCLA campus in 1947, with its first permanent buildings completed three years later.

UES enjoys a proud history of dynamic leadership. During the 1930s and 1940s, it was an outstanding example of progressive education. UES gained fame through the publication of teachers' guides, journal articles and units of instruction. Corinne A. Seeds, a student of John Dewey and principal from 1925-1957, helped create the Social Studies frameworks for Los Angeles County and the California State Department of Education.

In 1960, John I. Goodlad was appointed director of UES and soon after also became dean of the UCLA Graduate School of Education. A leader in the non-graded school movement, Dr. Goodlad encouraged the implementation of team teaching and multi-age grouping. His writings, based on work at UES, stimulated these practices throughout the country. In 1962, Madeline Hunter became the principal of UES. During her 20 years here, she developed a teacher decision-making approach to instruction. She wrote books for teachers on how to maximize student motivation, retention and transfer of learning. Her work also serves as the basis for a clinical supervision model widely used by administrators across the nation.

In the 1980s, Director Richard C. Williams and Principal Hal Hyman worked with the faculty to explore aspects of the school reform movement. They experimented with restructuring the school's organization to strengthen the professional role of teachers and to encourage participatory decision-making. They formed teacher work groups to coordinate curriculum development in language arts, visual arts, science and mathematics across age levels. In addition, they created an extended day program for working families that integrates childcare with the school program.

In the 1990s, the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies created the Urban Education Studies Center to work closely with UES. The Center facilitates collaboration among UCLA faculty and students and UES teachers on issues related to improving education for diverse student populations. Under the leadership of Director Deborah Stipek and Principal Margaret Heritage, this partnership resulted in the development of innovative and effective curricula in the areas of critical thinking and early literacy; a system for establishing and maintaining a safe school environment; and methods for integrating technology into the curriculum that have been nationally recognized.

From 2000-2006, Frederick Erickson served as director of the research center, which was renamed CONNECT: A Center for Research and Innovation in Elementary Education. Professor Erickson is an internationally known innovator in using video to study teaching and learning as it happens in everyday classroom interaction. He and Principal Donna Elder, who joined UES in 2002, expanded teacher research at UES. Dr. Erickson also led the development of a web-based tool for delivering professional development for science teachers.

In 2006, Noel Enyedy became director of CONNECT. Dr. Enyedy is well known for his expertise in cognitive science, the learning sciences, integration of technology into the curriculum, and design research. He has worked in elementary and secondary classrooms throughout Los Angeles, bringing innovative learning experiences into the classroom and closely following what happens with them.

In 2007, Jim Kennedy, an educator with a record of innovative work in schools throughout Los Angeles, joined UES as principal. He holds the Carol L. Collins UES Principal's Chair. In addition to a passion for developing literacy in more than one language, Dr. Kennedy has a special interest in the teaching of elementary mathematics.