Members Invited to Join New National Affinity Group
Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation, a Collaboration Between AACTE and CEEDAR
Teacher educators across the nation are invited to join the newest national affinity group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation, and our first meeting is “spooktacularly” on Halloween!
AACTE is collaborating with the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) in order to offer AACTE members the opportunity to glean insights from comprehensive educator preparation programs and educational partners who have excelled in recruiting and preparing candidates to become fully licensed special educators.
More specifically, this affinity group professional learning series will highlight successful strategies that educator preparation programs (EPPs) have employed to increase enrollment of special education candidates, including collaborating with K-12 districts, universities and community partners, and utilizing data collection efforts to drive decision-making.
Each month, AACTE will feature exemplary models from EPPs focusing on topics including the following:
- Presenting multiple pathways into the profession,
- Making a special education degree affordable,
- Enhancing clinical practice experiences,
- Special educator candidate wellness,
- The benefits of forming/participating in a special education Network Improvement Community (NIC), and
- Championing special education through advocacy.
The first meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 31, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET, spotlighting Cleveland State University’s DREAM program and Southwest Minnesota State University’s Para-to-SpED program. In addition to the presentations, members will break into small groups to exchange ideas and explore innovative ways to tackle current challenges to address the burgeoning educator shortage. It will be a hauntingly grand experience for all!
Save the date for the second meeting on Thursday, November 30, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET where we will dive into ways to make a special education degree affordable.
Click here to register for the group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation.
For more information, please contact Brooke Evans at bevans@aacte.org
Tags: events, membership
