Voting on AACTE’s proposed bylaw amendments is open now through November 22. These changes, recommended by the AACTE Board of Directors’ Task Force, aim to enhance the Association’s governance structure to better serve its mission in today’s rapidly changing educational environment.
Voting for AACTE’s proposed bylaw changes opened November 6.
In early 2023, the AACTE Board of Directors established a task force, comprising current and former board members, to examine best practices in association governance. This initiative sought to evaluate how AACTE’s governance system could best support the Association’s mission and its members in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. After extensive research and deliberation, the task force has recommended changes to the board composition that now awaits a vote by AACTE’s members.
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D.
AACTE announced today that Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D., will become the new president and CEO, beginning January 6, 2025. Holcomb-McCoy joins AACTE after serving as a distinguished professor and dean of the School of Education at American University (AU) in Washington, D.C., for over eight years.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of AACTE, I welcome Dr. Holcomb-McCoy as our next president and CEO,” said Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Ph.D., chair of AACTE’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Holcomb-McCoy’s vision and passion for educators, students, and their families are clear, and her collaborative experiences in PK-12 through higher education will serve her well as she leads our organization forward.”
During her tenure at AU, Holcomb-McCoy implemented various programs that heightened the visibility of the school within the University and on a national stage. Notably, at the start of her tenure at AU, the School of Education was housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, serving approximately 250 students. Under her direction, the unit became a stand-alone school in 2019 and now supports more than 1,500 students.
In 2023, the AACTE Board of Directors appointed a task force composed of current and former board members to study best practices in association governance and recommend ways that AACTE’s governance system can best enable the association to meet current and future challenges.
The task force has recommended changes to AACTE’s bylaws affecting board size and composition, the process for nominating and selecting board members, as well as the charge and composition of AACTE’s Executive Committee. All bylaw changes require member approval; late last month, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to refer the proposed bylaw revisions to a member vote, which will occur electronically in November.
At its June meeting, the AACTE Board of Directors voted to suspend adding new members to the board in 2025. This decision is based on recommendations by the Board Composition Task Force, which I chair. The board created the task force in June 2023 to review and reexamine the current board structure that has been in place for at least 50 years.
The task force, which is composed of current and former AACTE board leaders, reviewed the literature on best practices in association governance and examined the structures in place at sister organizations. As a result of this study, our preliminary recommendations are to shift from the current representative structure for the Board of Directors — which is a 20th century model — to a competency-based board for which all AACTE members would be eligible. We also recommended reducing the size of the board from 20+ to no more than 12 to facilitate and promote board engagement in all aspects of association governance.
Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., CAE, who just celebrated her seventh year of serving in the president and CEO position at AACTE, was recognized by AACTE leaders and staff at the 2024 Washington Week before her official retirement later this year.
Gangone began her tenure of service at AACTE in 2017, as her fourth leadership role within a higher education association. During her time in the association, Gangone has advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion, as one of the core values of the Association, which feeds directly into its mission to revolutionize education for all learners in the PK-12 spaces.
“Under her stewardship, the organization underwent significant transformation,” said Anne Tapp Jaksa, Ph.D., chair elect of AACTE’s board of directors and professor at the College of Education at Saginaw State University. “She championed inclusivity and ensured diversity and equity were not just woven into the fabric of our programs but were also a cornerstone of our strategic objectives.”
AACTE has extended the deadline to apply for a Programmatic Advisory Committee. This is a great chance to lend your talent and expertise to one of AACTE’s committees. Nominations are now due June 14, 2024.
AACTE is seeking volunteers to serve on the following programmatic advisory committees:
Have you considered volunteering for a leadership position in AACTE? Now is a great time to volunteer and lend your talent and expertise to one of AACTE’s programmatic advisory committees. Nominations are due by May 31.
Educator preparation is an essential element for all learners and advancing the profession is among the Association’s highest priorities. AACTE is at the center of efforts to ensure that all students receive the expert instruction and support they need and deserve.
“The Association’s heart lies in its members. It’s important for individual members to step up and serve on AACTE committees to keep that heart beating strong,” said Christine Gentry, Ph.D., chair of AACTE’s Government Relations and Advocacy Committee. “It’s clear that AACTE values its members’ input and takes our ideas and recommendations seriously. Serving on an AACTE committee allows us to share our ideas and recommendations directly, with leadership and with each other.”
Are you ready to lend your expertise and assume a leadership role in the national educator preparation community, or do you know someone who is? Nominate yourself or a colleague to serve on one of the AACTE Programmatic Advisory Committees (PACs) by May 31.
This month, AACTE begins its 76th year by looking back and moving forward. In February 1948, AACTE held its founding meeting in Atlantic City, NJ, and adopted its constitution and bylaws. AACTE invites you to take a journey from then until now, with the “75 Years Leading a Profession” digital timeline.
Over the course of the last three-quarters of a century, the Association experienced “The Start of Something Big” and through the decades, it reshaped teacher preparation, became a driving influence in the field, navigated turbulence and shifts in the landscape, and so much more. These key moments —critical decisions, collaborations, and initiatives — are documented in the timeline with historical photos, notable quotes, significant publications, and important “did you know?” facts.
AACTE (American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education) welcomes Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Ph.D., into her role as the 2024-25 chair of the AACTE Board of Directors.
For the next year, Grenot-Scheyer will serve alongside AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., in supporting education advocacy and innovation, strategic priorities of AACTE.
“Accepting the role of chair of the board of directors at AACTE is not merely an honor; it is a commitment to championing excellence in educator preparation,” Grenot-Scheyer said. “My goal is to navigate the currents of change with grace, to amplify educator voices, and to support our work towards a future where every educator is empowered to support student success and be an agent for positive change in the lives of our nation’s PK-12 students.”
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, AACTE thanks all members who give their time to advance AACTE and its vision to revolutionize education for all learners. AACTE is grateful to those who support the organization in a number of ways:
It does not go unnoticed that volunteering your time, while fulfilling your role at your institution, is a great sacrifice. AACTE not only thanks you but also acknowledges that without your efforts, the organization’s mission and programs could not succeed or move forward.
Have you considered volunteering for a leadership position in AACTE? Now is a great time to volunteer and lend your talent and expertise to one of AACTE’s programmatic advisory committees. Nominations are due by April 28.
Educator preparation is an essential element in revolutionizing education for all learners and advancing the profession. AACTE is at the center of efforts to ensure that all students receive the expert instruction and support they need and deserve.
I wanted to seek out leadership opportunities within a national organization and AACTE seemed like a good fit for me. I have had experience with conferences and programming with other organizations and this committee seemed to fit my area of expertise and interest. — Tori Colson, Meetings and Professional Development Committee
As AACTE continues its work to revolutionize education and advance the educator profession, the Association celebrates the committed, talented, and thoughtful volunteer leaders who serve on its programmatic advisory committees. Are you ready to lend your expertise and assume a leadership role in the national educator preparation community, or do you know someone who is? Nominate yourself or a colleague by April 28 to serve on one of the following programmatic advisory committees:
