09 Jan2020
By Trish Parrish
If you have been involved with AACTE for any length of time, you know how important it is to advocate on behalf of educator preparation. The Committee on Government Relations and Advocacy, one of AACTE’s standing committees, is offering a preconference at the AACTE 2020 Annual Meeting to help you improve your advocacy skills. Your Levers of Civic Power: Moving the Gears of Democracy is half-day interactive session designed to provide information and practice in three important areas of advocacy: participating in town halls, speaking before a committee or commission, and engaging candidates during a debate.
Town halls provide a forum to interact with your elected officials and candidates for office on a variety of topics that may or may not be announced in advance. Committees or commissions might also convene around your state or at the state capitol or legislative buildings. Debates, like town halls, can happen around the state, and give you an opportunity to engage with candidates on issues important to the profession.
16 Dec2019
By Linda Minor
AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting will take place at the iconic Atlanta Marriott Marquis, conveniently located downtown, with indoor MARTA access to Atlanta’s airport and local attractions. Within just a short walk from the hotel, you can enjoy the city’s shopping, dining, and entertainment centers while the conference is not in session.
Here are a few Atlanta fun facts to help kick start your exploration of the city:
05 Dec2019
By Jerrica Thurman
Registration is open for the AACTE 2020 preconference workshops taking place February 27 in Atlanta. AACTE offers five workshops plus the Holmes preconference prior to the start of its 2020 Annual Meeting, providing a deeper dive into complex education issues and equipping attendees with practical skills for advancing programs and institutions.
Get an early start on planning your learning experience at this year’s conference. Preconference workshops are interactive, and allow ample time to share ideas and engage with peers. Secure your spot today for one of these preconference workshops:
05 Dec2019
By Caitlin Wilson
The role of today’s principal is changing. Now, more than ever, school leaders need to be prepared from day one to succeed in a complex and ever-evolving school context. But what does quality principal preparation look like? How can principal preparation programs ensure that school leaders are ready to meet the demands of the job? Join us for our final webinar in the four-part series on principal preparation, a collaboration with the Wallace Foundation, to hear a panel of researchers and practitioners dig into the answers to both of these questions.
14 Nov2019
By Jerrica Thurman
Come make your voice heard at the AACTE Studio—the latest addition in the AACTE Gallery during the 2020 Annual Meeting. Share your perspectives on important issues in educator preparation and the Association’s new strategic direction during short video interviews. This is your chance to elevate what’s happening in education at your institution and in your local communities. The AACTE Gallery also offers opportunities to engage and learn about promising innovations in educator preparation from AACTE members and partners through interactive presentations. Morning and afternoon sessions will be held on Friday, February 28, and Saturday, February 29. Presentations will include
- AACTE Holmes Program Poster Sessions
- National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) Poster Sessions
- AACTE Membership and Programs Updates
06 Nov2019
By Jerrica Thurman
You may now access online the lineup of more than 300 sessions at the 2020 Annual Meeting through the AACTE Event Planner. Take advantage of this all-in-one tool to help plan your conference experience with a few easy clicks!
To start selecting sessions to attend, visit planner.aacte.org. Once you have logged in, sort through the hundreds of sessions by searching titles, descriptions, presenter names, locations, and other fields. You can also filter sessions by the four conference strands as well.
21 Oct2019
By Jerrica Thurman
Time is running out to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration rate for AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia! This special offer expires October 30 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
At the Annual Meeting, you’ll get a high value for your registration dollar. Hundreds of enriching sessions, networking opportunities, multiple meals and receptions, and access to the latest research and best practices are all included—giving you a great bang for your buck!
Get inspired at the Opening Session with keynote speaker Robin DiAngelo, who coined the term “white fragility” in an academic article and influenced the national dialogue on race. Then during the Closing Session, you will hear from keynote speaker Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year. Six Deeper Dive sessions, offered in three stand-alone time blocks, will provide valuable ideas and tangible tools you can take home to drive change in your local institution and community.
Join educators from across the nation in sharing research, experiences, and collegial feedback to move forward “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change.” Plan now to attend the AACTE 72nd Annual Meeting, February 28 – March 1, 2020, at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta Hotel. Register by October 30 to take advantage of our Early Bird registration rates.
Learn more about the conference theme, schedule, and venue at aacte.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and join the conversation using #AACTE20.
11 Oct2019
By Jerrica Thurman
A 19-year teaching veteran, Robinson employs the knowledge he has gained from his students to develop alternative programs to prevent students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline. In 2015, Robinson started teaching at Virgie Binford Education Center, a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center. He is a member of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s Education Compact Team, which includes politicians, educators, business leaders, and community leaders, and is working with city leaders and local colleges to recruit underrepresented male teachers into the field of education.Be inspired at the AACTE 72nd Annual Meeting Closing Keynote Session featuring Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, on Sunday, March 1. Robinson uses the whole child approach to education to help students who are most vulnerable. His classroom is a collaborative partnership between himself and his students and is anchored in him providing a civic centered education that promotes social-emotional growth.
Read more about Robinson and join the conversation on “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change” at the AACTE 2020 Annual Meeting, February 28 – March 1.
The October 30 early bird registration deadline is quickly approaching so secure your spot today! Visit aacte.org for conference details, and follow us on Twitter at #AACTE20 and Facebook.
Come experience the new AACTE Annual Meeting – One community. One purpose. One place.
Do you have questions or need Assistance? Contact us at events@aacte.org
02 Oct2019
By Jerrica Thurman
AACTE is pleased to announce renowned academic, lecturer, and author Robin DiAngelo will headline the 2020 Annual Meeting, February 28 – March 1 in Atlanta, GA. She will take center stage as the opening keynote speaker on Friday, February 28.
DiAngelo serves as the affiliate associate professor of education at the University of Washington, where she teaches courses in multicultural teaching, inter-group dialogue facilitation, cultural diversity and social justice, and anti-racist education. She is widely recognized for her research in critical discourse analysis and whiteness studies.
In 2011, DiAngelo coined the term “white fragility” in an academic article, which influenced the national dialogue on race. Her book, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism, was released in June 2018 and debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Read more about DiAngelo and how you can join in “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change” during the Annual Meeting!
The October 30 early bird registration deadline is quickly approaching! Take advantage of discounted rates for the AACTE 72nd Annual Meeting by securing your spot today! Visit aacte.org for conference details, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and join the conversation using #AACTE20.
Come experience the new AACTE Annual Meeting – One community. One purpose. One place.
Questions – Need Assistance?
Please contact us at events@aacte.org
26 Sep2019
By Jerrica Thurman
AACTE’s engaging concurrent sessions, known as Learning Labs, are returning to the 2020 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. As an attendee from last year noted, “The practical sessions with actual implementation stories stood out as exemplary.” In the Learning Labs you too will receive inspiring content and tangible practices to implement in your daily work.
Come experience these enhanced sessions, categorized by these types:
- Case Stories sessions feature quality storytelling designed to illuminate real world case studies that demonstrate innovation or breakthrough practices.
- Data to Action sessions release recent data in ways that encourage attendees to discuss its relevance and practicality in everyday settings.
- Future Casting sessions explore the creation of “next practices” as opposed to and/or in addition to exploring current best practices.
- Paper Sessions feature two presentations focused on a similar topic centered around the event strands.
- Perspectives sessions address a current topic or concern that is germane to educator preparation framed as a research, policy, or program question.
- Roundtables sessions focus on a particular topic and are led by an individual or a small group.
- Scenario Planning sessions help attendees consider and discuss a variety of actions that might take place as a result of changing conditions.
AACTE continues to elevate the quality of its educational offerings and attendee engagement at its Annual Meeting. Come experience the reimagined offerings at the AACTE 72nd Annual Meeting, February 28 – March 1. Register now and take advantage of early bird rates by October 30. Visit aacte.org for conference details, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and join the conversation using #AACTE20.
Do you have questions or need assistance? Please email events@aacte.org.
19 Sep2019
By Jerrica Thurman
The AACTE Annual Meeting consistently earns high attendee ratings. More than 90% of the 2019 attendees ranked the conference and its content quality as “Good” or “Excellent,” and said they would recommend it to their colleagues. Some of the top benefits participants cite are the value of learning and networking with like-minded professionals. Here is what attendees had to say:
“I love the Annual Meeting. The people are great, the sessions are generally strong, and I really appreciate the focus on taking ownership of education policy making.”
“I really appreciated the time to connect with peers doing this work and to hear about the ways in which we can continue to move the needle to a practice-based curriculum.”
“I enjoyed talking with all the vendors and making decisions about products to implement at our university.”
“I find the sessions useful and the networking is always great. [The event is] very important for gaining new information and perspective and [for] professional networking.”
Join colleagues from across the nation at the premier conference for teacher educators — AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting, February 28 – March 1, 2020. Register and take advantage of early bird rates by October 30.
Visit aacte.org for conference details, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and join the conversation using #AACTE20.
For additional assistance, please contact us at events@aacte.org
17 Sep2019
By Linda Minor
Have you registered to attend the 2020 AACTE Annual Meeting?
The first 100 paid registrants will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Google Play gift card. The deadline to be entered in the drawing is Friday, September 27, so make sure to register early—plus you will also receive the Early Bird discounted registration rate! The winner will be notified by October 4.
As an attendee at the AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting, “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change” you will join your colleagues in this united effort to tackle injustice and challenge the status quo. This year’s conference will take place February 28 – March 1 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
You’ll learn how to become a driving force in crafting the narrative on educator preparation in sessions organized by these four strands:
- Strand 1 – Equity and Inclusivity in Preparation and Practice
- Strand 2 – Activism and Innovation for Transforming Democracy
- Strand 3 – Establishing a Sustainable and Diverse Profession
- Strand 4 – Clinical Practice and Community Engagement
If you have any questions about the drawing or the Annual Meeting, please email me at lminor@aacte.org.
09 Sep2019
By Linda Minor
The 2020 AACTE Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA is an opportunity to learn and engage with fellow attendees and join in this unified effort to disrupt inequities while educating for inclusion and change. When the meeting is not in session, you will want to explore the southern charm Atlanta has to offer — from fine dining, shopping and rich history to inspiration-inducing attractions.
All AACTE events (Opening and Closing Sessions, Learning Labs, Deeper Dives) will take place in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. The downtown hotel is only steps away from many attractions:
16 Aug2019
By Linda Minor
Registration is now available for the AACTE 72nd Annual Meeting, in Atlanta, Georgia, February 28 – March 1, 2020. Sign up by October 30 to secure the Early Bird registration discount!
The 2020 Annual Meeting is themed “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change,” conceptualized as follows in the call for proposals:
17 Jul2019
By Jerrica Thurman and Donna Sacco
AACTE’s Jerrica Thurman first met Donna Sacco in 2015. Sacco was one of three doctoral students from George Mason University (GMU) who worked as an AACTE education intern, assisting in advocating for high-quality preparation programs and with its marketing communications. Thurman was pleasantly surprised when she saw Sacco at AACTE’s 2019 Washington Week with her two Holmes doctoral students from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). It was during her AACTE internship that Sacco learned about the Holmes Program and determined to make a personal contribution to help diversify the teacher workforce by becoming a Holmes advocate. The following summary highlights an interview Thurman had with Sacco about her journey from an intern to a change agent in education.
What piqued your interest in the issues of teacher diversity as a doctoral student at George Mason University and student intern at AACTE?
Before my doctoral program, I was a special educator with a master’s degree in bilingual special education. For my entire career, my focus has been on culturally and linguistically responsive instructional practices. Part of my drive came from the stories my father told me about the obstacles he experienced in his childhood as the son of Italian immigrants. He was a brilliant man but never went to college. He had one advocate who helped mentor him in appreciating the arts but had no teachers who were advocates, role models, or who understood his background. Once I began researching teacher education, I was surprised to learn that the teaching force is composed of roughly 80% white female teachers. How had I missed that obvious point? I am a white female who was teaching mostly boys of
