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Join AACTE for a Convening on Character Formation in Education

AACTE invites its members to attend a preconference on character formation during its 75th Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. This event, sponsored by the Kern Family Foundation, will take place on Thursday, February 23 at 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and will feature growing research on character education and exemplary models of character integration across educator preparation programs. The event will open with a plenary session, moderated by Carole Basile, Dean of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. The plenary panelists will include:

  • Stanton Wortham, Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean, Carolyn and Peter Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College
  • Meredith Critchfield Ph.D., Dean, College of Education, Grand Canyon University
  • Deborah M. Boyd, Ed.D., College of Education, Dean Emerita & Professor, Lipscomb University

Read below to learn more about Carole’s take on character in teacher preparation and what participants can expect to learn from attending this event. Space is limited. View the full agenda and register today.

  1. In your own words, what is character formation and why should educator preparation programs care about it?

Character is both what one does (current actions) and who one becomes (human development going forward) influenced in a dynamic interactive way by context. Character formation is the life-long process of constructing character.

It’s critical in teacher preparation alongside dispositions, which have been the focus, as we learn more about how relationships, practices, and building of learning environments can significantly impact the ability of learners to flourish.

  1. How long has your college been a grantee of the Kern Family Foundation and what are the aims of your project?

We have been a grantee since 2017 with an aim to build character formation into teacher and leadership preparation. That project led us to the work we are doing today called, Principled Innovation. This work has now transcended our college and is the 9th design aspiration of ASU.

  1. What new insights may educator preparation program faculty and leaders gain from attending the Kern Preconference?

I hope that participants will begin to see how the work of character formation is critical to teacher preparation and the decisions that are made on behalf of learners every day.


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Weade James

Vice President, Organizational Advancement