Be a Champion for Change at AACTE’S 74th Annual Meeting in New Orleans

By Linda Minor

This past year has undoubtedly presented our nation’s education system with many hurdles, including the pandemic, remote learning challenges, climbing teacher shortages, student learning loss, and so much more. While we may have weathered the worst of the health crisis, much more needs to be done in overcoming the destruction it left in its wake. That’s why it is more important than ever to attend next year’s AACTE Annual Meeting. Be a champion for change by joining us in person in New Orleans, March 4-6, 2022, as we “Rethink, Reshape, Reimagine, and Revolutionize: Growing Our Profession Post Pandemic.”

You’re Invited: Virtual Release of New Early Childhood Education Higher Education Report

By Jacqueline Rodriguez

Higher education is a critical part of the early childhood education (ECE) profession as it serves as the primary pipeline for the early childhood education workforce. And, like early childhood educators, most ECE higher education programs find themselves under-resourced and under-valued. As such, the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession calls for a significant investment in ECE higher education programs to shore up the ECE workforce pipeline and to ensure that practitioners are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively support the development and education of young children.

Strengthening the Educator Workforce: The Importance of Pre-K–12 Partnerships

By Maria Hyler

Strong pre-K–12 partnerships are vital to high quality educator preparation. To ensure a diverse, effective, and sustainable educator workforce, it is important that preparation programs and district partners develop and nurture authentic, reciprocal partnerships. These cross-institutional relationships are more important than ever in the wake of the isolation and disruption caused by the pandemic. Effective partnerships are complex and require intentional structures, dedicated resources, and shared goals and values.

Register for AACTE In-Person Annual Meeting at Early Bird Rates

By Linda Minor

State Affiliates Gather, Collaborate, and Strategize at SLI

By John Blackwell

As the door closes on another successful State Leaders Institute (SLI), I want to thank all the attendees and participants for helping make 2021 SLI the enjoyable, informative, and successful event that it was.  Thank you to AACTE for renewing their commitment with the new State Affiliate Agreement. We look forward to many years of advocacy and collaboration.

SLI is one of the few occasions when state leaders can come together as a physical group and discuss best practices, learn about the latest developments in educator preparation, and fellowship. The demands placed on all of us as professionals and individuals over the past couple of years have made gatherings such as SLI especially meaningful.  I miss meeting as a group and look forward to seeing everyone next year in person.  Though this year’s SLI had to be virtual, judging from the energy and comments, everyone enjoyed themselves and took full advantage of the occasion.

UNC Invites Participation at National Field Experience Conference

By Kim Creasy

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) is hosting its National Field Experience Conference April 3 – 5, 2022. The purpose of the conference is to share information, practices, policies, and research pertaining to teacher candidates’ experiences in school settings. Presentations will address the preparation, supervision, and evaluation of teacher candidates for their knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Logistics and management of these placements will also be addressed.

Proposals are being accepted through January 1.

NYACTE Partners with NYSATE to Host 2021 Annual Conference

By Jacob Easley II

The New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE) is hosting its annual conference jointly with the New York State Association of Teacher Education. The 2021 conference is entitled Educational Innovation for Equity and Excellence. Progressively delivered in a virtual format September 30 through November 2, all events are free of charge. It is not too late to join us for an interactive member presentation that will take place on October 21 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST. In addition, asynchronous (pre-recorded) paper presentations are also available.

The conference highlights the ways in which New York educator preparation programs (EPPs) and PK-12 engage in partnerships and innovations for advancing educational equity. The conference addresses ways in which state level policy and local practices address programming for greater outcomes among diverse student populations and school communities. The conference concludes with our keynote speaker Elaine Gross, who will challenge the profession in its efforts for racial justice.

Connect with Colleagues In-Person at AACTE Annual Meeting

By Linda Minor

Many of you have admitted to being “all zoomed out” by attending virtual meetings over the past year and half.  AACTE is looking forward to seeing you in person next year for the 74^th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, March 4-6.  Please know that we are continually following the COVID protocols and guidelines set by the CDC, as well as the state of Louisiana.  All safety measures will be put into place during the meeting to ensure safety so that you may enjoy the conference sessions, connect with friends and colleagues, and grow your professional knowledge and network.

MACTE Presents ‘Rediscovering the Joy in Teaching’

By Laurie Kinglsely

This fall, the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) conference will take place under the theme, Rediscovering the Joy in Teaching: Recharging and Rebuilding, on October 25-26.  To maximize opportunities to engage, session times will vary by day, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. each day.

Hurry! Secure your Spot to Disrupt the Status Quo

By Linda Minor

Reimagining In-Person Learning

By Tammy L. Henderson

In this article, Tammy L. Henderson of Lamar University reflects on her experience as an attendee at the first session of the 2021 Leadership Academy Series held August 8. 

While Congress and the National Conference of State Legislators (Smalley, 2021) monitor and update the public on the impact, resources, and policies used to address COVID-19, administrators in educational institutions have their boots on the ground. During the first session of the virtual Leadership Academic Series, When We all Get Together Again: Returning to Campus with New Opportunities, administrators, the essential workers of learning, met to discuss, share, and identify innovations. When disclosing and reimagining ways to promote quality education, health, and overall well-being, participants shared the significance of following policies, negotiating ways to teach and touch base with students, negotiate pathways of safe, sound instructional delivery, and adhering to the requirements of state governors, the Centers for Disease Control, and their administrative leaders. My reflections around self-care and leading with compassion became more profound in my awareness while listening to others. I left the session with a renewed sense of energy and ideas to champion health, innovations in education, and administration innovations for contemporary times.

Advancing and Advocating for the Profession

By Joseph Peters

In this post, Joseph Peters of Georgia State University reflects on his experience 2021 Washington Week Day on The Hill attendee.

This year’s AACTE Day on the Hill, themed “Your Voice Matters,” was a fantastic experience. The Hop-In virtual platform made it easy to participate in the event. AACTE’s Research, Policy and Advocacy staff provided excellent speakers to prepare everyone for the congressional visits. Our Georgia team was led by Georgia State University’s Project Nurture TQP Grant Director Norma Green. In addition to Georgia State University, Georgia College and State University, Fort Valley State University, and Middle Georgia State University participated in the event. We were able to set up meetings with both Georgia Senators’ staff, as well as the educational policy staff of four Georgia Representatives.

AACTE’s 2021 Virtual Washington Week Concludes With State Leaders Institute – September 30 Through October 1

By AACTE

AACTE and ATE State Leaders Discuss State Policy Trends and Advocacy for Educator Preparation

 The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) concludes its month-long Washington Week programming with the State Leaders Institute (SLI), September 30 through October 1. SLI brings together state chapter leaders from AACTE and the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) to augment their impact on state level educator preparation policy issues and to advocate for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. This program affords leaders the opportunity to gain insight from each other, learn how other states organize their state-level conferences and outreach efforts, and identify key advocacy strategies together.

Join Us in ‘Thinking Wrong’ on October 20

By Linda Minor

This year’s attendees of the AACTE Virtual Leadership Academy Series are committed to enhancing their leadership skills, especially during these difficult times. Here’s what a couple of your peers had to say about this year’s virtual Leadership Academy first session:

“I loved the meeting, even though I wished we could be there in person. I attended the academy several years ago in Pittsburgh and got so much out of it. I think that the presenters did an amazing job of engaging everyone in interactive polls and breakout rooms. Our discussions were right on target for what we need to get started in leadership this year with its many challenges. I appreciate the opportunity and I’m definitely looking forward to the next meeting.” – Sue Corbin, Ph.D., Notre Dame College

‘Policy is Personal’ and ‘Information is Currency’

By Shauna Torrington

This article is a personal reflection of the 2021Washington Week Holmes Policy Advanced Policy Course by attendee Shauna Torrington.

My takeaways from my participation in the Holmes Advanced Policy Course have been threefold. This course has impacted me as an international student, an advocate, and as a practitioner.

As an international student, I have a greater understanding about the terminology that is normally used in policy advocacy. This new knowledge has enabled me to follow along with a clearer understanding during discussions on policy. The words representative, senator, and congressperson also now have greater meanings for me. I am aware of the basics of the legislative process and can better follow the process of how a bill becomes a law. I now know what it means to introduce a bill or to sponsor a bill. Additionally, I know what a “markup” means and what is the process that comes after a markup. I know where to look to find information on my senators and my representatives. I know how to contact their offices or to see what issues they voted for or against.