Author Archive

Brooke Evans

Director, Research and Practice

Reflection: National Teacher of the Year State Dinner

On May 2, 2024, the inaugural National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) State Dinner was held at the White House. The event welcomed National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) Missy Testerman from Tennessee, state teachers of the year, members of the NTOY selection committee, sponsors, and esteemed guests to honor Testerman as well as celebrate the work of the state teachers of the year in camaraderie.

The event, hosted by First Lady Jill Biden, Ed.D., made history as it was the first time being held at the White House, with distinguished guests Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and Secretary of Health & Human Services Xavier Becerra, with a special appearance from President Joe Biden, who addressed the audience with celebratory remarks for the state teachers of the year in attendance, “Teaching is not what you do, but who you are. I realize how hard you all work every day. I just want to say how much I appreciate all you do.”  

UTRGV to Showcase Program’s Tech Innovation in Webinar

On May 9, from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET, the recipient of the 2024 Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology, the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will present their Empowered Educator Program for 21st Century Teaching (E2) as part of AACTE’s Lunch & Learn series. During this virtual event, “Unlocking Digital Pedagogy through the Empowered Educator Program at UTRGV,” faculty will focus on E2’s ability to equip teacher candidates with essential skills for modern education. 

The Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology award, overseen by AACTE’s Committee on Innovation and Technology, recognizes an innovative use of educational technologies in a school, college, or department of education and highlights initiatives that creatively infuse technology into the curriculum, transcending conventional teaching methods and bringing about transformative changes in educational practices.  

Webinar to Examine Equitable Learning in K-12 Classrooms

Featuring Ladson-Billings Outstanding Book Award Winner David Stroupe

As school leaders, educators make instructional decisions shaping opportunities in classrooms for students to learn. An educator’s words and actions, especially related to the treatment of students and their ideas, are foundational for creating equitable learning communities in our classrooms and schools.

On Wednesday, May 1, from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. ET, AACTE will host a Lunch & Learn recognizing the 2024 Gloria J. Ladson-Billings Outstanding Book Award winner David Stroupe, Ph.D., of the University of Utah and his book, “Growing and Sustaining Student-Centered Science Classrooms.”

Global Education Opportunities, Resources Available to Members

The AACTE Global Education Faculty Professional Learning Community (PLC), supported by the Longview Foundation, recently concluded following a year dedicated to professional growth, networking, and collaborative endeavors spanning various institutions. As a result of their participation, PLC members created a Global Education Consortium of Resources that can be found on AACTE’s Connect 360 website. AACTE members are encouraged to log in to Connect 360 and to peruse the library and/or upload additional resources. 

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.  

AACTE Lunch & Learn: Designing a Syllabus Using Generative AI

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET, members are invited to attend the AACTE Lunch & Learn: Designing a Syllabus Using Generative AI. 

In this session led by AACTE Innovation and Technology member, Laurie Bobley, Ed.D., of Touro University, attendees will explore how to develop an effective, standards-based syllabus using generative AI and the potential limitations surrounding this emerging technology.  

AACTE Lunch & Learn: University of Northern Colorado’s Award-Winning Center for Urban Education

AACTE Lunch & Learns return on Wednesday, March 20 from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET with guests from the University of Northern Colorado’s (UNC) Award-Winning Center for Urban Education.

UNC is the inaugural recipient of the AACTE 2024 Increasing Educator Diversity: Promising Practice Award. Overseen by AACTE’s Programmatic Advisory Committee on Educator Diversity, this award, recognizes a promising practice from a school, college, or department of education demonstrating outcomes and advocacy related to various activities, practices, programs, pedagogies, systems, and/or policies that lead to or is likely to lead to, an increase in educator diversity.

More Lesson Planning: Discussing Generative AI Tools for Teacher Educators

Lunch & Learn with Guy Trainin

AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch & Learns: professional development opportunities for members.  These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy to apply to your work. Can’t make it virtually? All Lunch & Learns will be available on-demand for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you. 

By AACTE member request, Guy Trainin will be back for the next part of his series on Thursday, February 8 from 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET to present Part II, More Lesson Planning: Discussing Generative AI Tools for Teacher Educators.  

Trellis, Blooms, and Bees: Creating a Twice-Exceptional Teacher Education Program at Cleveland State University

Lunch & Learn with Claire E. Hughes

AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch & Learns: professional development opportunities for members. These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy to apply to your work. All Lunch & Learns will be available on-demand for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you. 

AACTE will continue its Lunch & Learn series with Trellis, Blooms, and Bees: Creating a Twice-Exceptional Teacher Education Program at Cleveland State University on Thursday, February 1, from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. ET.

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 January 23, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, special education teacher advocates are invited to attend the third meeting of the new national affinity group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation.  The third meeting, Clinical Practice Experiences will dive into the use of technology at both the University of North Georgia and the University of Virginia. 

Michael J. Kennedy, Ph.D., and Rachel L. Kunemund, Ph.D., University of Virginia, will share how their faculty utilizes the COACHED Platform (Capturing Observations and Collaboratively Sharing Educational Data), a suite of evidence-based coaching tools and professional learning materials for teacher educators while also taking us on a tour of the free platform. Additionally, Jennifer Sears, Ph.D., the University of North Georgia, will discuss how her university uses the COACHED software and how this platform allowed the university to meet the needs of rural districts in her area. 

Innovations to Support How Educators are Prepared to Partner with Families to Promote Student Learning

AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch & Learns: professional development opportunities for members. These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy to apply to your work. Can’t make it virtually? All Lunch & Learns will be available on-demand for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you. 

On Wednesday, January 24, from 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET, join the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) directors, Margaret Caspe, Ph.D., and Reyna Hernandez, J.D., as they discuss an ongoing partnership between the NAFSCE and AACTE designed to reimagine how educators are prepared to connect, collaborate, and lead alongside families. 

Lesson Planning: Generative AI Tools for Teachers and Teacher Educators

Lunch & Learn with Guy Trainin

AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch & Learns: professional development opportunities for members. These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy to apply to your work. Can’t make it virtually? All Lunch & Learns will be available on-demand for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you.

AACTE will continue its Lunch & Learn series with Lesson Planning: Generative AI Tools for Teachers and Teacher Educators on Wednesday, January 17, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET.

Guy Trainin (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) will talk about various AI tools, their functionalities, and best practices so that these tools can enhance teaching and not just serve as a novel addition. Furthermore, he will discuss ethical considerations, such as data privacy and avoiding algorithmic biases, ensuring that the implementation of AI is not only effective but also responsible.

Visit the AACTE events page to register or read more about this Lunch & Learn.

Special Education Teacher Advocates Invited to Second Meeting of AACTE, CEEDAR Collaboration

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

On November 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, special education teacher advocates are invited to attend the second meeting of the new national affinity group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation. The second meeting, Making a Special Education Degree Affordable, will dive into two educator preparation programs that are using Teacher Quality Partnership Program (TQP) grants to financially enable students to pursue a special education degree.

American University’s Carolyn Parker and Sarah Irvine Belson will share information on their recent TQP-funded program, Residency for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (RETL), a master’s program that is being developed through a unique initiative that will leverage the resources and expertise of a partnership between American University’s School of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Friendship Public Charter Schools (FPCS).

Register for November 14 Lunch & Learn with Michael Kennedy

A (Multimedia and Evidence-Based) Ranch Hand to Help Tame the Wild West of Teacher Candidate Supervision: Introducing the COACHED Platform

AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch and Learns, new professional development opportunities for members.  These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy that you can immediately apply to your work. Can’t make it virtually? All Lunch and Learns will be available on-demand just for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you.

AACTE Members are invited to the next Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, November 14, from 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET. Michael J. Kennedy, Ph.D. (University of Virginia), a member of AACTE’s Innovation & Technology Committee, will introduce the COACHED Platform (Capturing Observations and Collaboratively sHaring Educational Data), a suite of evidence-based coaching tools and professional learning materials for teacher educators. He will also address questions about how COACHED can fit alongside existing (and required) checklists or other evaluations of teacher candidates. 

For more information, and to register for the event, please visit aacte.org

Register for the November 2 Lunch & Learn with David Slykhuis

Why Your Dean Wants You to Keep Your Outlook Calendar Up-To-Date and Other Microsoft 365 Tips

AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch & Learns, new professional development opportunities for members.  These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy that you can immediately apply to your work. Can’t make it virtually? All Lunch & Learns will be available on-demand for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you.

Join us on Thursday, November 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET for AACTE’s Lunch & Learn, Why Your Dean Wants You to Keep Your Outlook Calendar Up-To-Date and Other Microsoft 365 Tips, with David Slykhuis, Ph.D., of Valdosta State University. This session will briefly touch on several of the important, and often underutilized abilities of Microsoft Office 365. Some examples include the following: