11 Feb2021

Celebrating HBCU Icons of Teacher Education

The members of AACTE’s HBCU Teacher Education Topical Action Group (TAG) are very proud of the contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ (HBCU) educators and researchers and the work that they have done within and beyond academia. More importantly, we commend the contributions made through the discourse and praxis on equity in education. We want to celebrate these contributions and promote the excellence that emanates from HBCU educator preparation programs. We look forward to your participation at our annual business virtual meeting on February 23, 2021 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

In keeping with this year’s theme, Resisting Hate, Restoring Hope: Engaging in Courageous Action, The HBCU Teacher Education TAG will engage in a discussion on how we are instrumental in this purpose by using our unique positionally to provide leadership on issues of diversity and inclusion. We hope you will consider joining us.

We are excited about this year’s business meeting for several reasons. As our group continues to build momentum and add to its membership, we are building on a firm foundation. Since the TAGs inception, we have actively engaged our members around issues affecting MSI educator preparation programs, coordinated research, and publication activities to support our missions, and invited guests to contribute to our discussions on matters of accreditation and teacher candidacy. At this year’s meeting, we intend to discuss how we can increase our presence by building new partnerships and innovations to amplify our voice. We also intend to assert ourselves in policy as there is much work left to do in this regard.

A sustained commitment to relevant HBCU Teacher Education issues has led to collaboration on grants and research projects across universities. As a result, members of this TAG are preparing publications and generating essential knowledge on cultural responsiveness at minority-serving institutions. With TAG elections taking place this year, we look forward to ushering in a new cadre of leadership to assist in our efforts to sustain and build upon the foundation set by our current leadership team.

HBCU Teacher Education TAG Business Meeting logo This year we are also extremely grateful for and pleased to announce the participation in our TAG annual business meeting by some legendary educators who hailed from HBCU’s. Ivory Toldson will discuss matters of significance to HBCUs from a policy and sustainability standpoint. Additionally, we will have an informal discussion with Gloria Ladson-Billings and H. Richard Milner IV who will share their unique experiences of having attended an HBCU teacher preparation program. We want this business meeting to be an opportunity for the TAG membership and the larger AACTE community to have a substantive discussion about the significance and the future of HBCU teacher education programs. Our intent is that this event will continue to draw members committed to the goal of supporting HBCU teacher education programs within the larger AACTE community.