26 Mar2024

Special Education Teacher Advocates Invited to AACTE, CEEDAR Meeting

Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation, a Collaboration Between AACTE and CEEDAR

On March 28, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, special education teacher advocates are invited to attend the next meeting of the national affinity group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation. This meeting will explore wellness strategies for teacher candidates.

Tyler Hester, Ed.D. and Hallie Fox, Ph.D., both of Educators Thriving, a nonprofit organization that supports educators thriving as professionals and people, will share the most common pitfalls that lead to educator burnout and the six factors that predict educator well-being. Additionally, Casey Woodfield, Ph.D. and Alicia Drelick, Ph.D., faculty in the Wellness and Inclusive Services in Education Department at Rowan University will share practical strategies and tools they have used with preservice teachers in the classroom to center wellness and to humanize their teaching practices. Meeting attendees will explore a range of tools that center wellness and model person-centered approaches in the classroom.

After presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and to network with other special education advocates for teacher candidate wellness.

Register online for the Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation group.

For more information, contact Brooke Evans at bevans@aacte.org.

About:

The affinity group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation, is a national collaboration with Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) 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. At each meeting, this professional learning series will highlight successful strategies that educator preparation programs (EPPs) have employed to increase enrollment of special education candidates, including collaborating with PK-12 districts, universities, and community partners, and utilizing data collection efforts to drive decision-making.

Casey Woodfield, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Wellness and Inclusive Services in Education at Rowan University and faculty fellow at Rowan’s Center for Neurodiversity.