Author Archive

Jerrica Thurman

Director of Marketing & Communications, AACTE

Hear From Past Attendees About AACTE Washington Week

Connect with peers from across the nation during the virtual AACTE 2021 Washington Week. Themed Your Voice Matters, the conference unites AACTE’s collective efforts to advance education policy and funding to support programs at your local institutions. Hear what past attendees had to say about the value of Washington Week events in these testimonial videos:

Christine Carrino Gorowara, Ph.D.
Past president of the Delaware Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
University of Delaware
 
Christine Carrino Gorowara, Ph.D.
 

Make Your Voice Heard at AACTE Washington Week

2021 Washington Week

AACTE is committed to making your voice heard at the state and federal levels. Augment your advocacy skills while advancing educator preparation at AACTE’s premiere advocacy event, Day on the Hill, September 21-23.

AACTE’s virtual Day on the Hill is the prime opportunity to meet with your elected officials, advocate for the current Administration’s historic investment in education, and highlight the importance of teacher preparation programs. Engage with colleagues from across the nation while learning how to advocate for the profession and share your successes on Capitol Hill.

This year’s event offers breakout sessions to prepare you for engaging with Members of Congress and their staff. When you register, select a track that best meets your skill level:

  • Track A for those new to Day on the Hill or who want to polish up their advocacy skills  
  • Track B for those with extensive experience in advocacy

Explore AACTE Connect360 Communities

As a member of AACTE Connect360, you have access to more than 20 community groups to join, with more on the way! Community groups allow you to engage with like-minded peers on topics of interest and grow your network. These groups highlight important areas in educator preparation including research, leadership, advocacy and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Here’s how to explore the communities on Connect360:

Register Now for AACTE’s Upcoming Events

AACTE’s upcoming slate of events offers professional development and networking opportunities at a significant discount for our valued members. This year’s Leadership Academy and Washington Week will be held virtually, with AACTE’s 2022 Annual Meeting occurring in person in New Orleans. Registration for all three events is open now, so secure your spot today!
 
2021 Virtual Leadership Academy
 
Leadership Academy Series: August and October 2021 and January 2022
This year’s Leadership Academy will occur as a three-part series. The first session takes place August 11, with the second session occuring October 20 and the final session transpiring in January 2022. Join your colleagues at the first session, “When We All Get to Together: Returning to Campus with New Opportunities,” for a dynamic, interactive discussion on developing a positive transition to in-person learning and creating new opportunities in the post-COVID environment. Members can attend all three sessions for just $99.

Discover How to Make the Most of AACTE Connect360

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Join AACTE for a free, members-only tutorial of AACTE’s new online community, Connect360. “Discover How to Make the Most of AACTE Connect360” will be held Thursday, July 8, at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT. This in-depth walkthrough will navigate how to access its many features and provide resources to better acquaint you with the online community platform. Topics covered include
  • How to setup your community profile
  • How to join a community and post a discussion
  • How to connect with colleagues
  • How to use the community libraries and explore shared resources and documents from community members
  • How to engage in rich discussions with peers
  • And more!

New for Members: AACTE Connect360 Guide and Webinar Tutorial

Connect 360 Quick Start Guide thumbnailHave Connect360 questions? The AACTE Quick Start Guide provides step-by-step instructions to maximize your experience with Connect360. Discover how to

  • Set up your profile
  • Make connections
  • Explore communities
  • Share a post 
  • Receive community notifications
  • Follow a discussion thread
  • Explore the library
  • Search the member directory

View the Connect360 Quick Start Guide to get involved with AACTE’s new online community today! 

Also, mark your calendar to attend AACTE’s webinar tutorial, “Discover How to Make the Most of AACTE Connect360,” on Thursday, July 8, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST. Explore this new members-only resource, walk through how to access its many features, and gain resources to better acquaint yourself with Connect360. Learn more about the webinar tutorial in this recent blog and register in advance to reserve your seat!  

See the Latest Discussions with AACTE Connect360 Updates

Stay up to date with recent conversations, new ideas, and innovative research through regular notifications from AACTE’s Connect360. Set up community notifications within your profile in a few easy steps!
 
 
 
AACTE Connect360 logoLog into your account on aacteconnect360.org and visit your profile page. You may access your profile by selecting your avatar at the top right of the page. Select the “My Account” tab and use the dropdown menu to see your email preferences, as well as communities to which you belong. Edit your notification preferences for each community, including opting to receive real time updates or daily digests.
 

AACTE Launches New Podcast ‘Revolutionizing Education’

Revolutionizing Education Podcast banner
AACTE is excited to announce its first ever podcast, Revolutionizing Education, is now available! This new podcast examines ways to innovate educator preparation and education for all learners. AACTE’s first series highlights case stories shared by members during the 2021 Annual Meeting. The first two episodes are available now, with additional episodes being released throughout the summer. A second series will premiere this fall featuring live interviews with AACTE members and partners, national education leaders, teacher candidates, and students.

AACTE is expanding the reach of its members’ work in educator preparation through podcasting. Episodes of Revolutionizing Education are available on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneIn, and Spotify, where you can not only listen to or download the podcast, but also leave ratings, reviews, and feedback.
 
Listen now to the first two episodes:
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In this episode, we hear from AACTE members Kyle Harrison, Kelly Hayek, and Irene Ann Resenly from the University of Wisconsin who explore the role of joy in teacher education.
 
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In this episode, Eva Zygmunt from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, details the creative efforts of a mid-sized, midwestern community collaborative to reclaim its school district from a state-takeover, resulting in the legislated granting of authority over the local district to the state university. 

Follow the AACTE Podcast on Twitter at #AACTEPodcast and #RevolutionizingEd. Be sure to tune in and spread the word!

Warm regards,
Jerrica Thurman, MBA, CAE
Director, Marketing and Communications

AACTE’s New Podcast ‘Revolutionizing Education’ Debuts this Month

Revolutionizing Education Podcast banner

AACTE is excited to announce its first ever podcast will debut this month. The new podcast entitled, Revolutionizing Education, examines ways to innovate educator preparation and education for all learners. The first podcast series highlights case stories shared by AACTE members during the 2021 Annual Meeting. New episodes from the first series will be released throughout the summer. In the fall, the AACTE podcast will feature live interviews with members, national education leaders, students, and other influencers in the education industry.

AACTE has partnered with Resonate Recordings for high-quality podcast production that will expand the reach of members’ work in educator preparation throughout the world. AACTE’s podcast episodes are available on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, and Spotify. On these platforms, you can search for and access the podcast, learn about it, listen to the episodes as well as leave ratings and reviews.

Follow the AACTE Podcast on Twitter at #AACTEPodcast and #RevolutionizingEd. Be sure to tune in and spread the word!

Grow Your Network on AACTE Connect360

Are you looking to connect with colleagues with similar, scholarly interests? Engage with like-minded peers and grow your network on AACTE’s Connect360 anytime, from anywhere. Simply log on to aacteconnect360.org, create your profile, and begin inviting colleagues to join your network right away. You can even introduce yourself in the open forum.

AACTE Connect360: Your Go-To Source

AACTE Connect360 logoIn just a few weeks, Connect360 has become the go-to source for AACTE members to explore innovative solutions for revolutionizing educator preparation. With over 20 communities, and more on the way, this is the place to address trending topics in education, engage with colleagues around areas of interest, and expand your knowledge and network. 

Recent posts in the Open Forum, a community where members share best practices and resources, address effective ways to prepare teacher candidates to work for racial justice. Here is a sample of what members have to say:
 

Get a Sneak Peek into AACTE’s 2021 Virtual Leadership Academy

AACTE is excited to announce its virtual Leadership Academy Series will be offered again this year as three sessions spread across August and October 2021 and January 2022. Designed for education leaders navigating the challenges of the current global environment, the series will augment your leadership skills during these unprecedented times. In a special introductory course, you can get a sneak peek into this year’s Academy Series.

Tennessee Grant Funding Available to EPPs in and around the State: Apply by May 7

Farm field - Grow Your Own Teacher Program

The Tennessee Department of Education is offering Grow Your Own grants to educator preparation programs (EPPs) who work with the state’s school districts. The $2 million grants are available to help remove barriers and increase access to the education field for prospective teachers in Tennessee. The May 7 application deadline is quickly approaching! Application requirements and additional information are available here.

The Grown Your Own initiative supports partnerships between EPPs and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to provide innovative, no-cost pathways to the teaching profession by increasing EPP enrollment and growing the supply of qualified teachers to serve the state’s diverse student population. It provides no-cost access to a pathway to teaching to meet the need for increased diversity as well as to address the state’s teacher shortage. The second round of grants will provide 20 EPPs with $100,000 for their programs.