19 Jan2016
By Jerrica Thurman
Last month, AACTE concluded its two-part online series on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) with a webinar discussing preparation of preservice teachers for CCSS in mathematics. The webinar highlighted ways to engage candidates in thinking mathematically, figuring things out the way their PK-12 students will need to do, and using mathematics in context to better assist students in their learning.
The webinar, “Preparing Teacher Candidates for Common Core State Standards in Mathematics: The Sequel,” was presented December 15 by Reuben Asempapa from Ohio University along with Fran Arbaugh from Penn State University and Cynthia Vavasseur from Nicholls State University, and moderated by AACTE Senior Director Linda McKee. They discussed strategies for program leaders to work on their campuses to educate mathematicians and mathematics educators about the CCSS in mathematics and to bring them together to effectively prepare future teachers:
14 Jan2016
By Jerrica Thurman
Event apps for conferences are no longer a novelty. Businesses and associations everywhere are adopting this technology to facilitate interaction with their audiences—and AACTE is no exception! In response to member requests, and to keep AACTE’s meetings up to speed with industry standards, the Association now offers a custom-designed online Event Planner with full mobile functionality.
“We developed the Event Planner to help our members better manage their time and receive real-time updates during AACTE events,” said Alexandr Gumbar, AACTE’s director of information technology, who created the platform 2 years ago and recently completed its mobile version.
The online planner takes the place of a printed conference program. A digital planner is not only more environmentally friendly than a printed one, but also more accurate: It can nimbly reflect the latest scheduling changes to provide the most up-to-date information during the event. AACTE’s application also guides you around the conference, assists with creating your agenda, notifies you of important announcements, and facilitates your feedback through surveys.
11 Jan2016
By Jerrica Thurman
To discuss Nevada’s persistent teacher shortages and what local educator preparation providers (EPPs) are doing about it, AACTE will partner with member institutions for a press conference in advance of the 68th AACTE Annual Meeting. The event will be held Monday, February 22, at 2:00 p.m. PST on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Severe staffing shortages in Clark County, Nevada’s largest school district, have been making national headlines and spurring emergency policy changes to boost numbers in the local teaching workforce. The press conference will address how the state’s EPPs, and those in similar contexts around the country, are addressing the crisis.
Officials from Clark County School District, nearby university-based colleges of education, and AACTE will discuss factors contributing to the local shortage as well as efforts to alleviate it. The following panelists have been confirmed to date:
- Staci Vesneske, Former Chief Human Resources Officer, Clark County School District, on special assignment to the superintendent’s office
- Kim Metcalf, Dean, College of Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Kenneth Coll, Dean, College of Education, University of Nevada, Reno
- Dennis Potthoff, Dean, School of Education, Nevada State College
- Thomas Reagan, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Great Basin College
- Mark LaCelle-Peterson, AACTE Senior Vice President for Policy and Programs
01 Dec2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Join AACTE for a free webinar featuring recent work to prepare educators to teach the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in mathematics. “Preparing Teacher Candidates for Common Core State Standards in Mathematics: The Sequel” will be held Tuesday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m. EST.
With support from the Learning First Alliance’s Get It Right campaign, AACTE is offering a two-part webinar series highlighting the work of educator preparation programs to develop teachers ready to prepare PK-12 students for CCSS . The first webinar, held in October, focused on a successful effort to implement the standards in programs throughout Kentucky (view the recorded webinar here).
The December webinar is the second in the series and also serves as a sequel to a major forum held at AACTE’s 66th Annual Meeting in 2014. Learn about successful methods, models, and technology tools used in preparing preservice teachers to implement CCSS mathematics standards in their classrooms.
17 Nov2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Ed Prep Matters is featuring “Stories of Impact” to showcase AACTE member institutions with educator preparation programs that are making a positive impact in their communities and beyond through innovative practices. We are committed to sharing members’ success stories and encourage you to do the same.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) system offers the public a variety of data on its institutions’ work through the UNC Data Dashboard. A series of specialized pages provide overviews of areas from research and development to graduates’ job placement, all in the name of boosting transparency for taxpayers, students, and other stakeholders.
10 Nov2015
By Jerrica Thurman
A dynamic panel of education leaders will take on the most pressing questions facing educator preparation during the Speaker Spotlight Session at AACTE’s 68th Annual Meeting.
This general session, to be held February 25, 2016, at 12:15 p.m., will feature the following panelists (learn more about them here):
10 Nov2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Ed Prep Matters is featuring “Stories of Impact” to showcase AACTE member institutions with educator preparation programs that are making a positive impact in their communities and beyond through innovative practices. We are committed to sharing members’ success stories and encourage you to do the same.
The Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) addresses today’s pressing workforce need for highly qualified math and science teachers who also have a strong understanding of diverse student populations, high-need school environments, and urban communities. Graduates of the program teach in Baltimore and throughout Maryland.
03 Nov2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Ed Prep Matters is featuring “Stories of Impact” to showcase AACTE member institutions with educator preparation programs that are making a positive impact in their communities and beyond through innovative practices. We are committed to sharing members’ success stories and encourage you to do the same.
Schools of education across the country take a variety of innovative approaches to improving the preparation of teachers in partnership with local schools. One example that recently won the attention of a local news channel is a lab school of Butler University (IN), which is part of the state’s largest school district, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). Providing its elementary students a unique opportunity to guide their own learning, this school is centered on the Reggio Emilia approach—a project-based style of teaching and learning designed to build students’ critical thinking and democratic ideas.
27 Oct2015
By Jerrica Thurman
The AACTE 68th Annual Meeting will take you to The Mirage Hotel, conveniently located on the Vegas Strip in the center of the city’s attractions. You won’t have to travel far to experience the area’s rich offerings, as The Mirage provides a full menu of restaurant options and headlining entertainment.
From fine dining to casual, you’ll discover a range of flavors to satisfy your appetite at The Mirage. Choose the perfect restaurant for you from these diverse venues:
16 Oct2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Did you know October is National Principals Month? While we appreciate our school leaders year round, this month is a special time to honor principals for their leadership and vital work in schools.
National Principals Month is a broad celebration of the principalship, marked by national and state resolutions, formal awards and recognitions, and acknowledgments from U.S. senators and representatives and other top government officials. It is an opportunity to say “thank you” to principals across the nation and to share with the community all the great things that principals do.
13 Oct2015
By Jerrica Thurman
AACTE congratulates Christopher A. Koch on his new appointment as president of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), announced today. He will oversee the national effort to implement an evidence-based accreditation system that aims to improve teacher quality and strengthen PK-12 learning.
“Chris is an ideal leader for CAEP,” said AACTE President/CEO Sharon P. Robinson. “He has experience partnering with teacher educators to meet the educational needs of diverse student populations. His dedication to service and the teaching profession is deep and profound, and his commitment to collaboration is evident. He has earned high regard as a trusted collaborator for the essential function of program accreditation.”
13 Oct2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Only 1 day is left to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration rate for AACTE’s 68th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada! This special offer expires October 14 at midnight EDT.
At the Annual Meeting, you’ll gain access to cutting-edge research and initiatives for “meeting the demands of professional practice” in educator preparation. Experience some of the most popular offerings of the conference in our six major forums for 2016.
13 Oct2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Many educator preparation providers are highly engaged in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and are actively working alongside PK-12 administrators, teachers, and parents to prepare students. Learn how AACTE member institutions in Kentucky are successfully implementing the standards in a free AACTE webinar, “Is Common Core Impossible?” Tuesday, October 20, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Thanks to a grant from the Learning First Alliance’s Get It Right campaign, AACTE will host this webinar as the first in a two-part series on CCSS implementation in educator preparation programs. This webinar focuses on the successful work of the Kentucky Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in facilitating its members’ work to align their educator preparation programs with CCSS after Kentucky became the first state to adopt the standards. Presenters will discuss how a communication strategy, community involvement, policy advancement and alignment, and professional development and capacity building were used for successful implementation.
18 Sep2015
By Jerrica Thurman
Be inspired at the AACTE 68th Annual Meeting by Pedro Noguera, one of the nation’s most important voices on the state of education today. Noguera will speak at the Welcoming Session, to be held Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
An expert on school reform, diversity, and the achievement gap, Noguera is a powerful, articulate, and far-reaching advocate for a strong and vibrant public education system. He is Distinguished Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences at the University of California Los Angeles. Previously, he served as Peter I. Agnew Professor of Education at New York University and as executive director of the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools.
11 Sep2015
By Jerrica Thurman
The AACTE 68th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas will provide a forum for you to engage in meaningful deliberation, share the latest research and best practices, and become better equipped to drive change in your field. Each year, thousands of educators come from around the country to discuss their challenges, discover new strategies, and join the nationwide conversation on the future of the profession. Don’t be left out of the largest gathering of educator preparation professionals—everyone will BE THERE!
