AACTE Adjusts Events in Response to COVID-19

AACTE Responds to COVID19

By Linda Minor

At AACTE, we continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation related to the spread of COVID-19. We understand that concerns for health, safety, and the impact on meeting attendance, among other issues, are affecting our members. 

Keeping this in mind, AACTE has made the decision to move its  June meetings to later in the year:

Washington Week will now take place September 8 – 11.  The location remains the same: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.  Check aacte.org for the revised schedule of events. 

Leadership Academy has been rescheduled to October 3 – 8.  The location remains the same: Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel. Visit the aacte.org for the revised schedule of events. 

AACTE is committed to maintaining all appropriate sanitary, health, and safety measures, and encourages attendees to follow guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. 

Please note that due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the coronavirus, AACTE will not charge a cancellation fee if you decide not to attend an in-person event based on concerns around your health or travel.

Register Now for AACTE 2020 Washington Week

By Linda Minor

Registration is now open for AACTE’s 2020 Washington Week. This annual event, with participation from AACTE and the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) state chapter leaders, Holmes Scholars, and AACTE members and non-members alike interested in advocating for the profession, will take place in the nation’s capital. This year’s Washington Week will be held May 31 – June 3 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA, and on Capitol Hill.

Engage with Partners and Peers in #AACTE20 Conference Community Center

By Linda Minor

AACTE’s Annual Meeting is just a few weeks away, and one place you certainly must visit during the meeting is the Conference Community Center, located on the Marquis Level of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. The Center is the place for you to take a break, socialize, network, greet old friends, and meet new ones—all while engaging with our Annual Meeting sponsors.

Did You Know? More Fun Facts about Atlanta

By Linda Minor

If you are planning to attend the AACTE 72^nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, you already know there are great educational sessions being offered, fantastic restaurants to eat at while you are in the city, and fun attractions to see and do, but did you know … 

• The city got its current name from railroad engineer J. Edgar Thompson. It is thought to be a shortened version of “Atlantica-Pacifica.” Before being named Atlanta, the city was originally named Terminus and Marthasville (the latter for Governor Wilson Lumpkin’s daughter).
  
  
• Atlanta is one of two cities in the world to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Jimmy Carter and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. President Carter received his Nobel in 2002. Dr. King received his in 1964 and when he. won, Atlanta threw him a dinner party that was almost cancelled due to opposition. Coca-Cola’s CEO at that time threatened to move the company out of the city because he thought it was an embarrassment that the city’s people wouldn’t honor their Nobel Prize winner. 
  
  
• The city’s symbol is the mythological creature “phoenix.” During the Civil War, General William Sherman burned the city on his infamous “March to the Sea.” Following the city’s surrender to Sherman in 1864, only 400 structures remained standing. However, like the mythological phoenix, Atlanta rose from the ashes stronger and more beautiful, a scene depicted in Gone with the Wind. Atlanta resident Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind because an ankle injury kept her from walking and she was really, really bored.
  
  
• The Varsity is the largest drive-in fast food restaurant in the world and serves more Coca-Cola by volume than anywhere else in the world. Housed on more than two acres in Downtown Atlanta, the Varsity has been an Atlanta institution for more than 75 years. The restaurant makes two miles of hot dogs, 2,500 pounds of potatoes, 5,000 fried pies and 300 gallons of chili from scratch each day. Be sure to stop by while you’re in town.

Connect with Colleagues During the Annual Meeting

By Linda Minor

Are you looking for networking opportunities during the AACTE Annual Meeting?  Well, we have plenty to offer. First stop: the Conference Community Center on the Marquis Level to connect with colleagues, where you can grab a cup of coffee and a bite to eat.  A continental breakfast is available on Friday and Saturday mornings, a break is included on Saturday afternoon and the opening reception is open to all on Friday evening. The Marquis Level of the Marriott Marquis is also the place for you to visit with our sponsors and exhibitors. To find out more about our sponsors, exhibitors, and the layout of the Conference Community Center, visit our Annual Meeting Sponsors and Exhibitors page.

Next stop: the AACTE Gallery, which is located in Marquis Ballroom B, conveniently adjacent to the Conference Community Center. The Gallery offers attendees an opportunity to discover some new and exciting things this year. Stop by and see live interviews taking place at the AACTE Studio, meet the AACTE Membership team and play some fun games (and maybe win a prize or two), stroll through the AACTE Holmes Student and NACCTEP posters, and join in the Coffee and Conversations to discuss some hot topics. 

Discover Atlanta at the AACTE Annual Meeting

By Linda Minor

AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting will take place at the iconic Atlanta Marriott Marquis, conveniently located downtown, with indoor MARTA access to Atlanta’s airport and local attractions. Within just a short walk from the hotel, you can enjoy the city’s shopping, dining, and entertainment centers while the conference is not in session. 

Here are a few Atlanta fun facts to help kick start your exploration of the city:  

AACTE Wants to Honor Your Outstanding Work

By Linda Minor

Have you thought about submitting and entry for an AACTE Award?  Have you or a colleague completed work that you feel should be noticed and deserves to be recognized? The good news is that there is still time to nominate or submit an entry for the 2020 Best Practice and the 2020 Professional Achievement Awards, recognizing member institutions and individuals, respectively, for their significant contributions to the field of educator preparation: 

Best Practice

• Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology
• Best Practice Award in Support of Global and International Perspectives
• Best Practice Award in Support of Multicultural Education and Diversity

Professional Achievement

• Margaret B. Lindsey Award for Distinguished Research in Teacher Education
• David G. Imig Award for Distinguished Achievement in Teacher Education
• Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education

The deadline to submit your entry is Wednesday, October 9, 2019. 

Register to Win!

By Linda Minor

Have you registered to attend the 2020 AACTE Annual Meeting?   

The first 100 paid registrants will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Google Play gift card.  The deadline to be entered in the drawing is Friday, September 27, so make sure to register early—plus you will also receive the Early Bird discounted registration rate! The winner will be notified by October 4.  

As an attendee at the AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting, “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change” you will join your colleagues in this united effort to tackle injustice and challenge the status quo. This year’s conference will take place February 28 – March 1 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

You’ll learn how to become a driving force in crafting the narrative on educator preparation in sessions organized by these four strands:

• Strand 1 – Equity and Inclusivity in Preparation and Practice
• Strand 2 – Activism and Innovation for Transforming Democracy
• Strand 3 – Establishing a Sustainable and Diverse Profession
• Strand 4 – Clinical Practice and Community Engagement

If you have any questions about the drawing or the Annual Meeting, please email me at lminor@aacte.org. 

Experience Atlanta at AACTE Annual Meeting

By Linda Minor

The 2020 AACTE Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA is an opportunity to learn and engage with fellow attendees and join in this unified effort to disrupt inequities while educating for inclusion and change. When the meeting is not in session, you will want to explore the southern charm Atlanta has to offer —  from fine dining, shopping and rich history to inspiration-inducing attractions. 

All AACTE events (Opening and Closing Sessions, Learning Labs, Deeper Dives) will take place in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. The downtown hotel is only steps away from many attractions: 

Dissertation Award Application Deadline Extended to Sept. 13

By Linda Minor

Were you planning to submit an application for the Outstanding Dissertation Award but missed the deadline?  You’re in luck!  The deadline has been extended until Friday, September 13. 

This award recognizes excellence in doctoral dissertation research (or its equivalent) that contributes to the knowledge base of educator preparation or of teaching and learning with implications for educator preparation. Overseen by AACTE’s Committee on Research and Dissemination, the award includes a $1,000 cash prize, as well as special recognition at AACTE’s 72nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, February 28 – March 1, 2020.

2020 AACTE Annual Meeting Registration Now Open

By Linda Minor

Registration is now available for the AACTE 72nd Annual Meeting, in Atlanta, Georgia, February 28 – March 1, 2020. Sign up by October 30 to secure the Early Bird registration discount!

The 2020 Annual Meeting is themed “Disrupting Inequities: Educating for Change,” conceptualized as follows in the call for proposals:

Education Leaders Sharpen Their Skills at AACTE Leadership Academy

By Linda Minor

More than 90 leaders from education programs across the country convened in Pittsburgh, PA. for AACTE’s 2019 Leadership Academy, June 23-27. Attendees shared their experiences on Twitter using #AACTELA19 and offered testimonials about their experience. Here’s what a few participants had to say:

“The AACTE Leadership Academy was a fantastic opportunity! The combination of the excellent instructors, event organization, and content contributed to an extremely worthwhile experience.  While I expected to learn more about leadership, I did not anticipate how important the other participants were going to be to the Academy. My network has significantly expanded as a result of the Leadership Academy, and my new colleagues (and friends) are a wealth of informa

Tour the Washington Week Venue

By Linda Minor

Last week, Deborah Koolbeck, Brandon Frost, and I went to the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel to get familiar with the venue and surrounding area where Washington Week will take place June 2-5.  Although it was raining that day, we decided to walk from the Crystal City Metro stop to the hotel—about a 10 minute walk. There is an underground walkway with numerous shops and restaurants, but we enjoyed the outdoor walk and getting acclimated to the area.   

Call for Entries: 2018 AACTE Outstanding Book Award

By Linda Minor

AACTE is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Outstanding Book Award. Nominations must be made through the AACTE online submission system by May 16.

The Outstanding Book Award, overseen by the AACTE Committee on Research and Dissemination, recognizes exemplary books that make a significant contribution to the knowledge base of educator preparation or of teaching and learning with implications for educator preparation. 

Here are our most recent winners:

2019  Mary Dilworth, Millennial Teachers of Color (Harvard Education Press)    

2018  Marcelle Haddix, Cultivating Racial and Linguistic Diversity in Literacy Teacher Education: Teachers Like Me (Routledge & NCTE)

2017    Eva Zygmunt and Patricia Clark, Transforming Teacher Education for Social Justice (Teachers College Press)

Washington Week: How to Plan Your Stay

By Linda Minor

Being new to AACTE, I learned a lot about what to expect during Day on the Hill when Deborah Koolbeck and I recently went to the Capitol. I have never been on the Capitol grounds before, although I have lived in the DC area for over 20 years, and it is beautiful. The weather was perfect. View video clip about Capitol Grounds. 

So, what can you expect during Day on the Hill? Tuesday will be a full-day of orientation at the hotel where you will build skills and prepare for their meetings with your congressional offices. Then, on Wednesday morning you will be bused to Capitol Hill for scheduled appointments with your elected officials. “But what about their luggage,” I asked? Attendees can bring luggage on the bus to the hill—or you can stay in town a little longer and take advantage of all the activities DC has to offer. View video clip about luggage.