JTE Podcast Interview: Preparing Teachers for Relationships with Students

Middle school history class

Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages

Listen to the recent JTE Insider podcast by the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE) editorial team. This blog is available to the public, and AACTE members have free access to the articles in the JTE online archives—just log in with your AACTE profile.

This podcast interview features insights from the article Preparing Teachers for Relationships with Students: Two Visions, Two Approaches” by Victoria Theisen-Homer. The article was published in the May/June 2021 issue of the Journal of Teacher Education

Attend HRC’s Project THRIVE Webinar: LGBTQ Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Youth

Young Asian woman holding rainbow flag to support LGBTQ+ communityAACTE partners with organizations that share its view that an intersectional lens is critical when educators are examining structures and practices that increase student discrimination and disadvantages.  As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to an end and Pride Month begins, one of AACTE’s partners, Human Rights Campaign’s Project THRIVE, is hosting a webinar with panelists that represent the intersection of these communities on May 27, 2:00 p.m. ET.

Looking Forward to New Orleans

As the May 28 deadline for the Call for 2022 Annual Meeting Proposals nears, John Henning, AACTE Board liaison for the Committee on Meetings and Professional Development, reflects on the theme and developing proposals for the post-pandemic world of educator preparation.

The AACTE 74Th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA, March 4-6, 2022, promises to be a memorable one. AACTE members have just passed through one of the most intensive and challenging periods of growth in the organization’s long history. There will be much to share and much to reflect upon next spring. Even now, AACTE members are deeply engaged in reflection as they craft their conference proposals in anticipation of the May 28 deadline. What a great time to take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and prepare to share insights with like-minded colleagues. This is noble work and critical for reimagining teacher preparation. 

Last Call for Nominations to AACTE Board and Advisory Committees

Engage as a Volunteer

Have you been thinking about volunteering for a leadership position in AACTE, but put it off because of the pandemic? As life begins to return to a “new normal,” now is a great time to step forward. Educator preparation is an essential element of our nation’s recovery from the pandemic, and AACTE is at the center of national efforts to ensure that all students receive the expert instruction and support they need and deserve.

New LFA Initiative Targets Students Missing Critical Vaccines as Schools Reopen

Pediatrics female doctor giving a young girl a vaccine shot in the armDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of children—at least one in five—have missed critical vaccinations that keep them healthy and our communities free from disease.

Students without these vaccinations may not be eligible to return to in-person learning in the fall. Even worse, losing herd immunity could put millions of unvaccinated children and adults at risk for deadly or debilitating diseases such as measles, whooping cough and polio.

JTE Podcast Interview: Proposing Core Practices for Social Studies Teacher Education

Studio microphone for recording podcasts and computer tablet on a white background.Listen to the recent JTE Insider podcast by the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE) editorial team. This blog is available to the public, and AACTE members have free access to the articles in the JTE online archives—just log in with your AACTE profile.

This podcast interview features insights from the article Proposing Core Practices for Social Studies Teacher Education: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Inquiry-Based Lessons” by Alexander Cuenca. The article was published in the May/June 2021 issue of the Journal of Teacher Education.

PATHS to Tutor Act: Helping Students Overcome Pandemic Learning Loss

Tutor helping student

Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages

This thought leadership article is written by an AACTE member. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of AACTE. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has set back learning for millions of students and exacerbated existing educational inequalities countrywide. A recent study by McKinsey Analysis found that Black, Latinx and lower-income students are less likely to have access to high-quality remote learning, resulting in their falling further behind and expanding the achievement gap by 15% to 20%. To help these students overcome pandemic learning loss, the Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-Need Schools (PATHS) to Tutor Act was introduced on February 25 by a bipartisan group, including Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

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:
 

In Memoriam: Rebecca Kantor

Rebecca Kantor

Rebecca Kantor, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) at the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) passed away from a terminal illness in late April of 2021.

AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, says, “Through our many walks together at CADREI, I developed a deeper understanding of and admiration for her passion to the profession. She was an exemplary leader for educator preparation, both within the state of Colorado and nationally, and leaves behind a lasting legacy of excellence through the innumerable lives she touched, mentored, and impacted.”

MU Enrollment Rates for Higher Education Teaching Programs Stay Steady, Despite Pandemic

This article originally appeared on KOMU 8 and is reprinted with permission.

Education programs across the country were presented with unforeseen challenges during the pandemic, in a career field that is already difficult to recruit for.

Despite these challenges, the University of Missouri’s program has not seen any impact on their enrollment numbers from the pandemic.

A survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education found that 19% of undergraduate-level and 11% of graduate-level teaching programs saw a significant drop in enrollment this year, according to the New York Times. 

Associate Dean for Student Success and Academic Affairs and Professor John Lannin said this is because of intentional outreach to prospective students.

Biden Moves Budget Forward, Republicans Act to Block CRT School Curriculum

This blog post is written by AACTE consultant Jane West and is intended to provide updated information. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of AACTE.  

Money budget conceptPresident’s Detailed Budget to be Released May 27

President Biden will release his full FY 2022 funding proposal on May 27.  In April, he released a budget framework (often called a “skinny budget, though there is nothing “skinny” about the numbers in it), a  $1.5 trillion proposal that provided the rough contours of his vision for $753 billion in defense spending and $769 billion in non-defense discretionary spending. The proposal in the “skinny” budget represents a 41% increase in spending to the Department of Education—the largest increase since the Department’s inception in 1979. The full budget proposal will include more details on proposed funding levels for specific programs.

Prepared to Teach and WestEd Release Three New Reports on Financially Sustainable Teacher Preparation

Prepared to Teach | WestEd logos

Prepared to Teach and WestEd have partnered on the Sustainability Project, a series of reports and interactive tools to support high-quality, financially sustainable teacher preparation. Three reports are being released this week through that project. Two are co-authored by Prepared to Teach and WestEd—Beyond Tuition, Costs of Teacher Preparation, and Going Further Together: Building Ownership and Engagement to Support High-Quality Teacher Preparation. The co-authored papers are being released simultaneously with a third piece authored by Prepared to TeachDollars and Sense: Federal Investments in Our Educator Workforce.

AACTE members know that aspiring teachers need high-quality, affordable options for teacher preparation—and research has shown that when candidates from diverse backgrounds have access to excellent programs, everyone benefits. Graduates of these programs stay in the classroom for longer and are more well-prepared than their peers who become teachers through faster, less rigorous pathways to the classroom.[1]

Enjoy Summers Savings with Your AACTE Membership

Red SUV driving along country road

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.

NAPDS Releases What it Means to be a PDS: The Nine Essentials, 2nd Ed.

As a member of the National Coalition of Educators, AACTE announces the release of the second edition of What it Means to be a Professional Development School: Nine Essentials, published by fellow member coalition member, the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS). AACTE shares NAPDS’s goal to support high quality teacher education through effective professional development and are looking forward to collaborating with them on projects aimed at achieving that goal. 

The National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) recently announced the publication of its policy statement, What it Means to be a Professional Development School (PDS): The Nine Essentials (2nd Edition), a culmination of several years’ worth of work by the association’s Nine Essentials Committee. The committee worked to identify the relevance of the essentials, which were originally published in 2008, and how they are used in the field by schools of education and P-12 schools. The document brings to light an updated and robust version of the Nine Essentials grounded in key concepts and educational research.

AACTE Partner’s with HRC’s Project THRIVE to Support LGBTQ Youth

Project ThriveAACTE is honored to share that it has joined the leaders from the nation’s largest health, education, child welfare, legal, and juvenile justice organizations in support of the Human Rights Campaign’s Project THRIVE, a multi-year national campaign to create more equitable, inclusive support systems and communities for LGBTQ youth. The initiative will build the skills and capacities of all youth-serving professionals to better meet the needs of LGBTQ young people.

Every organization that is part of Project THRIVE has a unique role to play in strengthening family permanence and support, improving health and well-being, increasing school connection, and building a foundation of resilience so that all LGBTQ youth can thrive. Project THRIVE is committed to an intersectional approach in this work, and to ensuring that LGBTQ youth of color and those who are system-involved or have a history of homelessness are a priority focus.