NMU Collaborative Project Receives NAFSCE Grant

Northern Michigan University education assistant professor Kristen White is among collaborators from 10 partner universities and K12s — including Marquette Area Public Schools — to receive an award from the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) to participate in its Family Engagement Educator Preparation Innovation Project. Only nine collaboratives were selected from a nationwide pool of 76 proposals to receive grants totaling more than $150,000. 

The nine collaboratives will implement select components of the Educator Preparation Framework for Family and Community Partnerships, released by NAFSCE in December 2022, and engage in a learning community through June 2023. The grants will incubate new ideas, uncover how the framework sparks innovation to prepare educators for family and community engagement in diverse communities, and create a platform to share and disseminate ideas and knowledge.

N.C. A&T’s Taliaferro Receives National Award Using Data to Ensure Teacher Readiness

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Alisa Taliaferro, Ed.D. recently received the prestigious 2022 Ed-Fi Alliance Educator Interoperability Leader of the Year Award. The award is one from seven community award categories including Lifetime Achievement, Partner, Technical Contributor, Ambassador, Solution and Rookie of the Year. 

“The impact of data interoperability is powerful in that it empowers agency among stakeholders such as students, faculty and administrators by providing them with real-time, accurate and actionable information from multiple sources and well-connected data systems,” said Taliaferro, associate dean of Quality Assurance and Graduate Programs in the College of Education.

NJACTE to Host Annual Day of Assessment

On Thursday, March 30, the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE) will be hosting our Annual Day of Assessment with the theme, “Authenticity and Improvement: Reimagining Assessment in a Changing Landscape.” The conference is free to attend and open to all AACTE affiliate members and their professional networks. Register now.

A Pre-Conference Session “8 Approaches to Transform Your Self Study into Meaningful Reflections” by our generous sponsor HelioCampus will begin at 1:00 p.m. The pre-conference session will be followed by the opening presentation “Assessment and Continuous Improvement: We’re Doing Everything Right, But Are We Doing the Right Things?” with panelists from The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University – New Brunswick.

National Teaching Grant to Boost Diversity

Sam Houston State University was one of 12 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to receive a portion of the U.S. Department of Education’s Augustus F. Hawkins Centers for Excellence Program grants, which aim to increase high-quality teacher preparation programs for teachers of color, strengthen the diversity of the teacher pipeline and address teacher shortages.

The program supports comprehensive, high-quality teacher preparation programs at MSIs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). SHSU is categorized within MSI as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

In the States: Massive Education Bill Moves Through Arkansas State Legislature

Last week, a massive education bill started to move its way through the Arkansas state legislature. It is likely that the bill will pass through the state Senate this week before heading to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders desk for signature. The robust legislative package, SB294, otherwise known as Arkansas LEARNS has been touted by the governor as addressing a vast array of education issues ranging from school choice to increasing the starting salary for teachers across the state. While many school choice advocates are supporting the bill, going so far as to provide the financial backing for an extensive public relations campaign that includes television and Facebook ads, the legislation does not come without criticism. Arkansas minority whip, Democrat Rep. Vivian Flowers expressed her concern, saying:

House Republicans Introduce ‘Parent Bill of Rights’ … Again

In February, the House Education and Workforce Committee held their first hearing: “American Education in Crisis.” During the chairwoman’s opening remarks, Virginia Foxx (R-NC)  expressed her support for H.R.5 , more commonly referred to as “The Parent Bill of Rights.” The legislation was first introduced in the 117th Congress and would require K-12 school districts receiving federal funding to publicly post their curriculum and annually provide parents with a list of books in the school library, a breakdown of school expenditures, the ability to opt their child out of all data collection, and more. As anticipated, on Wednesday, House Republicans reintroduced the bill.

Register Today: 2023 Holmes Research and Dissertation Retreat



AACTE is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2022 Holmes Research and Dissertation Retreat. The event will take place April 3 – 4, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on both days at the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.

Co-sponsored by the PNC Foundation and Florida Atlantic University, the Holmes Research and Dissertation Retreat will equip Holmes scholars with knowledge and tools to enhance their research productivity and navigate the dissertation process. Topics will include research methods and approaches, how to select and integrate a theoretical framework, how to identify grants and funding opportunities to support their dissertation and scholarship, and strategies to successfully publish and present their research to an interdisciplinary audience. Registration ($25) is required for scholars. Register today.

U.S. Has a Teacher Shortage. HBCUs are Helping to Change That

This article was originally published by The Associated Press

Surrounded by kindergarteners, Lana Scott held up a card with upper and lower case Ys, dotted with pictures of words that started with that letter: Yo-yo. Yak. Yacht.

“What sound does Y make?” Scott asked a boy. Head down, he mumbled: “Yuh.” Instead of moving on, she gave him a nudge.

“Say it confident, because you know it,” she urged. “Be confident in your answer because you know it.”

He sat up and sounded it out again, louder this time. Scott smiled and turned her attention to the other kids in her group session.

Thank You for Raising Your Voice to Support Education in 75 Ways

Local-, state-, and federal-level advocacy is more important than ever as the teacher preparation landscape is changing. Fueled by critical current issues, AACTE recently asked members to raise their voice and support a forward momentum of change as part of the 75 Days | 75 Ways to Advocate for Education.

Thank you to all participants who mobilized and provided a tip on how to support education, educators, and students and their families. Your voice and your name will continue to advocate for inclusive education policies in two new formats that were released at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis:

New Volunteer Leaders Prepare to Steer AACTE

At the conclusion of the recent 2023 Annual Meeting, Monika Williams Shealey became the new chair of the AACTE Board of Directors. Shealey is the senior vice president, diversity, equity, and inclusion at Rowan University. She is joined on the AACTE Executive Committee by the following:

Michael Dantley, Immediate Past Chair (pictured)
Dean Emeritus, College of Education, Health and Society
Miami University of Ohio

AACTE Celebrates Public Schools Week, February 27 – March 3

AACTE joins the Learning First Alliance (LFA) in celebrating Public Schools Week 2023 — a time for administrators, teachers, specialists, teacher educators, parents, and school board members to participate in events and discuss the importance of public education. AACTE supports Public Schools Week and thanks our public school teachers and educators who work tirelessly every day to educate our nation’s students. Learn about its importance and how to participate.

As a partnering organization, AACTE recognizes that teachers, principals, and staff who serve in U.S. public schools are key to helping students succeed, especially in these extraordinary times and circumstances. With a focus on what educators have learned and what they are currently experiencing to rethink teaching and learning, this year’s Public Schools Week honors a commitment to family, school, and community engagement. AACTE members are invited to take part in the week’s activities from February 27 to March 3.

Monika Williams Shealey of Rowan University Becomes AACTE Board Chair

AACTE welcomes Monika Williams Shealey, Ph.D., senior vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Rowan University, as the new chair of its board of directors. 

During her one-year term, Shealey will support AACTE and President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., in implementing the Association’s strategic goals, elevating education and education preparation; prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and advancing the educator profession—during a year in which AACTE will celebrate its 75th anniversary. 

“I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on the board, AACTE staff and President Lynn Gangone in advancing our strategic priorities, supporting and advocating on behalf of our members, and nurturing the next generation of leaders in the Association by creating pathways and resources for our students, state leaders, faculty, and institutional leaders,” said Shealey. 

Eleanor Su-Keene Named Holmes Scholar of the Month

Congratulations to Eleanor Su-Keene, Holmes Scholar of the Month for February 2023.

Su-Keene is a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University where she obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. Su-Keene holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in biochemistry from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She also has a Master of Science in molecular ecology from UNR with a focus in teaching and learning in secondary science.

You’re Invited: Learn About the HBCU TAG During #AACTE23

Join us at the AACTE Annual Meeting this year to learn how historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are transforming teacher education and preparation. The HBCU Teacher Education Topical Action Group (TAG) provides a platform for leaders and scholars associated with HBCUs to share their ideas and research on teacher education and preparation.

On Friday, February 24, 2023, from 8:00 a.m.  to 12:00 p.m., come to the Marriott IndyPlace’s Indiana Ballroom F to learn about the innovative programs and research initiatives at HBCUs that are driving change and making a difference.