AACTE NIC Video Case Study: Reducing Barriers for BIPOC Male Students

By Nicole Dunn

With the exacerbation of our nation’s teacher shortage brought on by the pandemic, the new White House administration will need to address this crisis strategically, keeping equity top of mind. As AACTE looks forward to improving the capacity and representation in the teacher workforce, it is essential for policy makers to tie decisions back to the historical context of structural oppression that has created barriers for a diverse teacher workforce in the past. As part of the AACTE Network Improvement Community (NIC) Black and Hispanic/Latino Male Teacher Initiative, NIC members identified a number of barriers and solutions to these obstacles, which are highlighted in Reducing Barriers, a segment of AACTE’s new NIC video case studies series.

How Would President Biden’s $2.5 Trillion Infrastructure Proposal Impact Education?

By Jane E. West

This blog post is written by AACTE consultant Jane West and is intended to provide updated information. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of AACTE.  

President Biden Unveils Massive Infrastructure Bill with Billions for Education

On Wednesday, President Biden took his first steps towards a months-long sprint to pass a $2.5 trillion infrastructure and jobs bill. The robust plan includes an emphasis on rebuilding America’s schools, broadband access, and increasing access to Community Colleges. Biden is proposing  $100 billion to help repair crumbling classrooms and build new public school buildings. The plan includes $50 billion in direct grants for school construction and an additional $50 billion through bonds. The allocation is slightly less than what House Democrats have proposed in their school construction legislation. The bill, H.R. 604 (117), introduced by House Education and Labor Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) calls for $100 billion in direct grants and another $30 billion in interest subsidies on bonds that states or school districts issue to pay for school construction. The President’s plan also has provisions aimed at allowing schools to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental policies, including helping school kitchens “go green by reducing or eliminating the use of paper plates and other disposable materials,” according to a White House fact sheet.

Mark Your Calendar for AACTE’s Virtual Events

By Jerrica Thurman

Plan now to attend AACTE’s signature events, Leadership Academy and Washington Week, to be held virtually this year. Engage with fellow education administrators and AACTE members to discuss critical, timely issues in educational leadership, and join your colleagues from around the country to advocate for the profession on Capitol Hill. These are two popular conferences, so mark your calendar today!

Build a Better Work Environment with AACTE Member Benefit

By Meghan Grenda

Whether you are back on campus or still in your home office, you can create a workspace that suits your unique needs. You may spend 40-plus hours on the job every week –why not feel good while you’re there?

Your new AACTE Office Depot Savings Program can help make it easy to shop and upgrade your office furniture, facilities, technology, and printing needs or any of your other work from anywhere necessities, while saving time and money. Your AACTE membership allows you to save up to 75% on regular prices, free delivery on qualifying orders of $50, and much more! Start shopping online and save with Office Depot: business.officedepot.com/AACTE.

University of Wyoming and Mursion Talk WYTeach and VR for Curriculum Development

By Mandi Jo John

The newest installment of the AACTE and Mursion Education Roundtable series features high school students using virtual reality (VR) to demonstrate their curriculum-building skills for a chance to earn a scholarship. The roundtable discussion, Innovative Training for Everyday Heroes: University of Wyoming on the use of Virtual Practice for the next Generation of Educators, will take place on April 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Sue Wiley, business development director for education at Mursion, will host Lindsay Freeman and Colby Gull from the University of Wyoming to discuss the WYTeach Contest. During the session, the group will discuss this innovative project and how the team is using Mursion VR Simulations to recreate the classroom environment and replicate a real-world teaching experience.

New Webinar on Wallace Report: The Role of Assistant Principals

By The Wallace Foundation

Learn about the findings from a new, comprehensive study commissioned by The Wallace Foundation, The Role of Assistant Principals: Evidence and Insights for Advancing School Leadership. Based on two decades of research, the synthesis focuses on a role that is increasingly prevalent but often overlooked. The report suggests APs could become a more powerful force in advancing equity, student outcomes, and school leadership goals.

The Role of Assistant Principals: A New Synthesis Offers Evidence and Insights

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET via Zoom

We invite you to register for  this important, one-hour event.

Has Your AACTE Membership Expired?

By Anne Tapp Jaksa

My name is Anne Tapp, and I was recently elected to represent you on the AACTE Board of Directors. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education for its ongoing support of AACTE.  

The year 2020 was a difficult one for all of us, but I am more confident than ever that AACTE provided the tools, resources, and network opportunities I needed to succeed this past year. Specifically, the new AACTE resources below helped me and my colleagues navigate challenges we had never experienced before: