The AACTE membership team would like to extend our sincere gratitude to you, your institution, and your colleagues for your ongoing support of AACTE. This past year has been unlike any other. A global pandemic, a historic number of natural disasters, and the continuation of violence and racial injustices towards members of our community all impacted our pursuit for high-quality, evidence-based preparation that assures educators are ready to teach all learners. Yet despite everything our community faced, we were still able to amplify our united voice to invest in educator preparation.
As AACTE opens the 2022 renewal season for the coming year, I’d like to remind you of the network of resources at your disposal. Below are just a few of the essential tools and initiatives AACTE has developed in the past year.
Have you needed to edit your member roster, update your address, or change your areas of expertise lately? If so, you have probably noticed a few changes to the AACTE Profile Manager.
From now to August 2021, AACTE is in the final stages of a database migration. As such, you will not be able to make any edits to your member profile during this time. Do not worry, you can still access all other tools. Do you need to search for a colleague, access a resource, or register for an event? The Membership Directory, Resource Library, Registration System are still accessible. Or are you planning to renew your membership for 2022? You may also still make renewal payments via the Profile Manager.
Once the migration is complete, you will have access to all AACTE resources and much more! The only difference is that when you log into the site, it will look a little different and be more user friendly.
Do you have a question, need to edit your member profile, or would like to offer feedback? Please contact the Membership Team at membership@aacte.org.
We may be in the dog days of summer, but why not beat the heat by accessing these new AACTE resources?
ARP Funding Toolkit – Learn how members can collaborate with their local district partners to allocate ESSER funds toward strengthening the educator workforce.
Consortium for Research-Based and Equitable Assessments (CREA) – Discover how AACTE, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is evaluating cut scores and how they can be refined to attract, rather than exclude, potential candidates.
AACTE Webinars – Explore the latest in the AACTE Webinar library. In July, AACTE is featuring three webinars: “Discover How to Make the Most of AACTE Connect360,” “Growing and Sustaining White Racial Justice Allyship in Education,” and “Combating Racism in Educator Prep: Justice and Joy for BIPOC Individuals.” Did you miss a webinar? No problem! You may also explore our on-demand webinar library for any discussion you may have missed.
As a member of AACTE, you have access to discounted on Office Depot pricing wherever business takes you. Your discount never expires and can be used for personal, school, or business purchases such as ink, toner, paper, and cleaning and classroom supplies!
Find all the essential items you need to keep running as efficiently as possible. With free next-business-day shipping, AACTE make sure you have what you need, when you need it.
AACTE invites you to attend a webinar to introduce you to the new members-only AACTE Connect360 resource, walk you through how to access its many features, and provide resources to help get you better acquainted. Topics will cover how to setup your community profile, how to join and post a discussion to a community, how to connect with colleagues, and how to explore the unique community libraries where member can upload resources, share documents, and participate in the ongoing conversation.
Connect360 is an engaging and interactive virtual platform that brings together AACTE’s community in an exciting way. Featuring over 20 unique communities, a community of over 15,000 individuals, and dozens of discussion posts, members can begin discussions, ask questions of fellow AACTE members, provide insight on each other’s posts, and share best practices.
AACTE’s Member Spotlight features an individual from a member institution, highlighting how their work makes a difference in classrooms across the country. Nominate yourself or another member by providing a response to the following questions and sending to mgrenda@aacte.org.
Get to know Clay Smith …
Position/Institution: I am in my 6th year as the Special Populations Coordinator in the College of Education at East Carolina University (ECU). Prior to that, I served for nearly 3 years as the South Central Consortium Coordinator for ECU’s Partnership Teach degree-completion model.
Number of years in your position: Two years
Alma Mater(s): B.S. in history education, East Carolina University; MAEd in history education, East Carolina University; Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
Hometown: Mebane, NC
Are you interested in connecting with colleagues that share your interests and have similar areas of expertise? If so, AACTE encourages you to join one of its Topical Action Groups (TAGs).
TAGs are AACTE action-oriented working groups that focus on areas such as accreditation, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), elementary education, research in teacher preparation, international education, and women in leadership—just to name a few. In addition to collaborating with your peers, AACTE provides TAGs with operational funds, marketing and staff support, and complimentary meeting space at the AACTE Annual Meeting.
AACTE and GoReact recently announced a partnership that grants members additional access to video assessment tools. GoReact provides colleges and universities with interactive tools to facilitate video observation, coaching, and assessment for teacher educators everywhere. The software provides live and remote observation and assessment via simple, interactive tools, where candidates receive individualized feedback.
Through the partnership, all AACTE members receive complimentary usage of GoReact’s video assessment platform.
According to many 2021 travel trend reports, some pandemic-era habits from last year show no signs of slowing down. Most will continue to travel domestically, take road trips, explore small towns, and take scenic drives to nearby lakes, beaches, and explore the great outdoors. With 59% of families reporting that they are more likely to drive instead of fly, 2021 will be another year filled with road trips.
Plan your next getaway and enjoy the open road with deals from AACTE’s Avis and Budget Car Rental Savings Program. As an AACTE member, you can save up to 30% off the base rates on every rental, plus receive additional offers, such as dollars off, a complimentary upgrade, or a free weekend day.
Did you know there are many ways to save with AACTE? Your AACTE membership gives you special discounts to on office supplies at Office Depot, the AACTE Career Center, and much more.
Your Remote Office Needs
Because you are a member of AACTE you have access to the exclusive, members-only Office Depot Savings Program. This program offers thousands of products discounted below retail pricing both online and in any store location. With your AACTE membership, you can save up to 75% off regular prices (as listed on officedepot.com) on our Best Value List of preferred products. Order online and receive free next business-day delivery on qualifying orders of $50 or more. Create an account and browse through our discounts, or shop in-store by printing your FREE Store Purchasing Card. Visit officediscounts.org/aacte/ for details and more!
AACTE’s Member Spotlight features an individual from a member institution, highlighting how their work makes a difference in classrooms across the country. Nominate yourself or another member by providing a response to the following questions and sending to mgrenda@aacte.org.
Get to know Shauna Alishea Torrington …
Position/Institution: Graduate Assistant-International Student and Faculty Services- Ohio University
Number of years in your position: Two years
Alma Mater(s): University of Guyana (2005); Twice alum of Ohio University (2015, 2017)
Hometown: Georgetown, Guyana, South America
Whether you are back on campus or still in your home office, you can create a workspace that suits your unique needs. You may spend 40-plus hours on the job every week –why not feel good while you’re there?
Your new AACTE Office Depot Savings Program can help make it easy to shop and upgrade your office furniture, facilities, technology, and printing needs or any of your other work from anywhere necessities, while saving time and money. Your AACTE membership allows you to save up to 75% on regular prices, free delivery on qualifying orders of $50, and much more! Start shopping online and save with Office Depot: business.officedepot.com/AACTE.
AACTE’s Member Spotlight features an individual from a member institution, highlighting how their work makes a difference in classrooms across the country. Nominate yourself or another member by providing a response to the following questions and sending to mgrenda@aacte.org.
Get to know Tracie McLemore Salinas …
Position/Institution: Director, Mathematics and Science Education Center, Appalachian State University; Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Number of years in your position: I am in my 17th year at Appalachian State as a faculty member and my first year as Director of the Mathematics and Science Education Center.
Alma Mater: B.S. William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS; M.S. and Ph.D. University of Tennessee – Knoxville
