Complete a Survey on Visibility of National Board Certification in Teacher Prep Programs

By Caitlin Wilson

AACTE is excited to work in partnership with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards on several initiatives that contribute to a vision of a coherent career trajectory that supports teachers from initial preparation through teacher leadership opportunities and beyond. The mission of the National Board is to advance the quality of teaching and learning through a voluntary advanced certification. By doing so, the National Board aims to align the teaching profession with other professions such as medicine. Through this collaboration, AACTE, National Board, and other teacher professional organizations seek to elevate the teaching profession and ensure each student is taught by a fully prepared and accomplished teacher.

The work of the National Board, the National Board Standards, and the certification process is founded on five core propositions that describe what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do to effectively support student learning. The five core propositions and National Board Standards are developed and revised by educators based on research and their expertise as practitioners.

Connect with Colleagues During the Annual Meeting

By Linda Minor

Are you looking for networking opportunities during the AACTE Annual Meeting?  Well, we have plenty to offer. First stop: the Conference Community Center on the Marquis Level to connect with colleagues, where you can grab a cup of coffee and a bite to eat.  A continental breakfast is available on Friday and Saturday mornings, a break is included on Saturday afternoon and the opening reception is open to all on Friday evening. The Marquis Level of the Marriott Marquis is also the place for you to visit with our sponsors and exhibitors. To find out more about our sponsors, exhibitors, and the layout of the Conference Community Center, visit our Annual Meeting Sponsors and Exhibitors page.

Next stop: the AACTE Gallery, which is located in Marquis Ballroom B, conveniently adjacent to the Conference Community Center. The Gallery offers attendees an opportunity to discover some new and exciting things this year. Stop by and see live interviews taking place at the AACTE Studio, meet the AACTE Membership team and play some fun games (and maybe win a prize or two), stroll through the AACTE Holmes Student and NACCTEP posters, and join in the Coffee and Conversations to discuss some hot topics. 

Elevate Educator Preparation with AACTE in Atlanta

By Jerrica Thurman

Join AACTE and your professional community in Atlanta as we advance the Association’s new vision to revolutionize education for all learners. During the 2020 Annual Meeting, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the recently approved AACTE Core Values in concurrent sessions highlighting key areas.

AACTE will leverage the collective knowledge and experience of leading experts on ways to progress the Association’s strategic direction in these robust sessions:

Spotlight on NIC to Reduce Special Education Teacher Shortage

By Katrina Norfleet

In an article that originally appeared in Special Ed Connection, author Kara Arundel spotlights AACTE’s collaboration with the CEEDAR Center in launching the Reducing the Shortage of Special Education Teachers Networked Improvement Community (NIC). As part of the NIC initiative, 10 preparation programs in higher education have been selected to participate in this NIC and implement a range of strategies that will positively impact the special education teacher shortage by the Fall of 2022.

Cleveland State University (CSU) is one of the universities featured in the article, along with its Associate Dean for Faculty and External Affairs Tachelle Banks. AACTE’s Caitlin Wilson commented on how CSU and the nine other institutions will help find solutions to the nationwide teacher shortage. “By better understanding what works in particular context and comparing how it is similar or different  at another university helps us to learn and share with the filed how that particular strategy or promising practice might be adapted depending on local conditions,” said Wilson, the director of program improvement and practice.

Read the full article, “Network of Universities Collaborate to Solve Special Educator Shortages.“

Finalists for Superintendent of the Year are Alum of AACTE Institutions

By Katrina Norfleet

The School Superintendents Association (AASA) announce the four finalists for the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year,® a distinction that honors school system leaders throughout the country for making a positive difference in the lives of the students they serve.  The four finalists for the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year® are:

• Gustavo Balderas, Eugene School District 4J, Eugene, Ore.
• Samantha Fuhrey, Newton County School System, Covington, Ga.
• Michael Nagler, Mineola Public Schools, Mineola, N.Y.
• Jeffery Smith, Hampton City Schools, Hampton, Va.

Revolutionizing Education

AACTE’s DEI Video on The Importance of Culturally Relevant Teaching

By Jerrica Thurman

Ed Prep Matters features the “Revolutionizing Education” column to spotlight the many ways AACTE, member institutions, and partners are pioneering leading-edge research, models, strategies and programs that focus on the three core values outlined in the current AACTE strategic plan: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Quality and impact; and Inquiry and Innovation.

The next segment of the AACTE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion video series features AACTE’s strategic priority to advocate for high-quality educator preparation. Equitable access to education for students from all cultures requires teachers to use knowledge, frame of references, and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning more relevant and effective to them. In AACTE’s DEI video, “The Importance of Culturally Relevant Teaching,” leading educators discuss a teaching pedagogy that affirms students’ differences and diversity.

Countdown to January 24 Registration Deadline for #AACTE20

By Katrina Norfleet

AACTE kicks off its countdown today to the advance registration deadline for AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. Only 10 days are left to take advantage of discounted rates. As the largest gathering of educator preparation professionals in the nation, AACTE’s Annual Meeting offers you access to essential tools to drive change at your institution, in your community, and for the profession.

Here are 10 reasons to attend #AACTE20:

1. Join the conversation and tackle important issues in education today with a diverse set of peers.
2. Get motivated by inspiring speakers and gain fresh perspectives.
3. Tailor your learning experience by choosing among hundreds of sessions that cover a broad variety of topics.
4. Discover new ideas that can make you more effective with your students, colleagues, and partners.
5. Engage with attendees, form new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Bring a colleague to share in the learning!
6. Build new alliances, business ventures, and partnerships to advance your work.
7. Take part in hands on demonstrations of new products, and discuss solutions to your specific needs with exhibitors and sponsors.
8. Step outside your comfort zone and open your mind to innovation.
9. Achieve greater focus on the problems of practice to help you take your programs to the next level.
10. Experience the energy of different perspectives uniting around common goals. Add your voice to the mix!

View the full lineup of the keynote speakers, schedule and preconference events on our website. To see the full list of sessions and create your personal schedule, log in to the Online Event Planner.

The January 24 advance registration deadline is quickly approaching! Act now to get the best rates.

New Webinar Prepares Educators for Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Classrooms

By Jacqueline Rodriguez

AACTE and partner, Educator Preparation Laboratory (EdPrepLab), an initiative of the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) and Bank Street College of Education, will host the second of a series of four webinars, Preparing educators for diverse, equitable, and inclusive classrooms, on January 30.

This collaborative webinar focuses on strategies to increase the preparation of both teachers and leaders. AACTE and EdPrepLab are excited to provide you with an opportunity to learn from and with our dynamic webinar leaders. Four dynamic experts who are advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their practice, research, and daily interactions with teachers, leaders, and community stakeholders will present during the webinar:

AACTE Supports Global CoSN Program to Drive K-12 Innovation

By Jacqueline Rodriguez

AACTE has partnered with CoSN (The Consortium for School Networking) to provide school leaders with high-quality information on emerging issues and technology trends for K-12 innovation, as a member of the advisory board. Recently, the international advisory board, about 100 education leaders, identified 15 key Hurdles, Accelerators, and Tech Enablers for schools to leverage in 2020 in order to drive innovation in K-12 education.

The next generation of teachers and leaders are being prepared at AACTE member institutions. In collaboration with our K-12 school district colleagues, educator preparation programs can leverage technology that supports the learning and social emotional growth of all our students. 

Together AACTE and CoSN are committed to advancing progressive practices in the field and addressing challenges and opportunities such as data privacy & ownership, social emotional learning, and tools for privacy & safety online.

CoSN will issue its insights and findings from the advisory board in two individual free briefs. These publications, along with an implementation toolkit, will be released throughout 2020 to spur ongoing discussions and visibility that analyze the top Hurdles, Accelerators and Technology Enablers in K-12 education. This project is part of CoSN’s EdTechNext initiative, extending their long-standing work surrounding emerging technologies.

Equity and Women in Leadership

By Marquita Grenot-Scheyer

Female leaders throughout history have made significant contributions to societal advancement, in such areas as the civil rights movement and education reform. Yet to this day, women still fight for equity, be it in the boardroom or the classroom. However, the good news is this occurs less often within the educational ecosystem today.

Is equity the norm within educational leadership? 

I am a Mexican-American woman, a teacher, and a first generation college student. Therefore, I approach my work from many perspectives using different lenses, and my gender is but one part of my journey. I have had many opportunities in my career to provide leadership at different levels of educational institutions, reflecting what I believe to be a trend in the last decade, where more and more women have assumed leadership positions in educational institutions. Take for example the system in which I am a leader: The California State University. We have 23 campuses and the majority of our presidents are female. And while I can’t single out my gender from my other identities as a leader, what I can tell you is that women continue to make a difference in the field because of their passionate dedication to better education for all.