24 Sep2024
By AACTE
As Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., CAE, prepares to retire from her role as president and CEO of AACTE, it is an opportune moment to reflect on her impactful leadership from 2017 to 2024. As she leaves AACTE in her eighth year of service, Gangone has not only navigated significant changes in the landscape of educator preparation but has also laid a solid foundation for the future of AACTE and its commitment to revolutionizing education for all learners.
Navigating Change in Teacher Preparation
Gangone’s tenure coincided with pivotal shifts in education preparation program accreditors and the growth of non-higher education alternative preparation programs. Under her guidance, AACTE adeptly adapted to these challenges, ensuring that comprehensive educator preparation programs maintained their relevance while embracing innovative pathways to educator preparation. Her foresight in recognizing these trends allowed the association to remain a leading voice in representing colleges of education and their educator preparation programs, shaping the future of innovative educator preparation.
27 Aug2024
By Tyler Pointer
“As a leader, I think it’s important to know your values and where you stand… For me, educational equity has been the cornerstone for my work as an educator in all the different roles that I’ve had,” said AACTE President & CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., CAE.
Gangone was recently featured on EDUP Xcelerated Excellence‘s episode “Dr. Lynn M. Gangone—Leading for High Quality Educator Preparation,” where she engaged with host, Jacob Easley II, Ph.D., PMP, on the history of AACTE and her legacy as she prepares for retirement.
Gangone assumed the role of AACTE president and CEO during a turbulent period in education and intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her commitment to the association’s well-being drove key strategic developments, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
17 Jun2024
By U.S. Department of Education
On June 13-14, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) held the second of three Regional Convenings to Support State Action to Advance the Education Professions in Chicago with a focus on Midwest to Northeastern states. AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., CAE, was in attendance and presented at the Chicago meeting on June 13.
The three convenings are bringing together key leaders from across over 25 states, D.C., and American Samoa in cross-sector state leadership teams to learn from each other about effective efforts by states to increase educator compensation, expand access to high-quality and affordable pathways into the education professions, and increase educator diversity. The opening remarks featured the Department’s Assistant Secretary for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development Roberto J. Rodriguez, and Illinois State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders, Ed.D. The opening remarks and session featured leadership from The Hunt Institute and TEACH.org.
11 Jun2024
By Tyler Pointer
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.”
19 Mar2024
By Tyler Pointer
Join AACTE on Tuesday, March 26, at 1:00 p.m. EST for Lunch with Lynn, to learn about the work of AACTE 2024 Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education Winner, Kimberly A. White-Smith, Ed.D.
White-Smith, dean and professor at the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego and vice president of the California Council on Teacher Education, will join AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D. to share her insight on the realm of teacher education. White-Smith has over 25 years dedicated to urban schooling and educator development and has been a fervent advocate for academic justice, particularly for marginalized communities.
19 Mar2024
By AACTE
After seven years of committed service, Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., CAE, president and CEO of AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) has announced her plans to retire later this year.
AACTE is composed of higher education member institutions and programs that prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and college faculty.
22 Feb2024
By Tyler Pointer
As the realm of education continues to evolve, it is essential to pause and reflect on the milestones that have shaped the landscape of teaching and learning. The newest edition of Journal of Teacher Education (JTE 75.1) offers a profound opportunity to do just that.
At the forefront of this edition is an editorial penned by AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., and AACTE Dean in Residence Leslie T. Fenwick, Ph.D.
22 Jan2024
By AACTE
Join AACTE on Tuesday, January 30 at 1:00 p.m. EST for Lunch with Lynn where she will highlight AACTE’s work to engage members in internationalization — one of the areas of focus at the 2024 Annual Meeting. During the Lunch with Lynn session, AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone will host Margery McMahon and Sarah Anderson from the University of Glasgow, an AACTE member institution, to explore, strategize, and impact policy and practice to improve educator preparation internationally.
This virtual event provides attendees with an exclusive opportunity to join the conversation and ask questions about global work in educator preparation.
Register today for the January Lunch with Lynn.
21 Nov2023
By Lynn M. Gangone
For over 75 years, AACTE has led the nation’s thought leaders and practitioners in advancing teacher education. In addressing the ever-growing shortage of qualified educators, AACTE brings together educators, advocates, policymakers, and practitioners to move from theory to action. AACTE does this through advancing curriculum innovation, developing guidelines for teaching apprenticeships, diversifying faculties of colleges of education, and much more.
Now, for the first time, AACTE is adding another group to join us in advancing teacher education by inviting individual donors to be AACTE champions, investing in our work to elevate educator preparation and grow the educator workforce.
Beginning with #GivingTuesday on November 28, AACTE is launching its inaugural End-of-Year Individual Giving Campaign, “The Future of Teacher Education Starts Now.” As an AACTE supporter, you champion the work of an association that remains the leader in advancing a highly qualified and diverse group of educators for our PreK-12 and higher education communities.
21 Nov2023
By AACTE
AACTE will host the November 29 virtual Lunch with Lynn, “The Holmes Program Today,” to showcase the history and work of the Holmes Program, which supports the graduate work of ethnically and racially diverse students at member institutions. AACTE President & CEO Lynn M. Gangone will be joined by Lisa F. Huffman and Gina Anderson from Texas Woman’s University where the program has grown and expanded despite statewide efforts to hamper DEI efforts. Weade James, AACTE’s vice president of advancement and Holmes Program alumna will also join the conversation to provide an update on recent program successes and expanded opportunities for participants.
Register today for the November 29 Lunch with Lynn.
21 Sep2023
By AACTE
You are invited to join AACTE for its inaugural “Lunch with Lynn” conversation. Hosted by AACTE President & CEO Lynn M. Gangone, this monthly series of virtual conversations will include members of the educator preparation community.
For the first session, AACTE’s Dean in Residence, Leslie T. Fenwick, will join Lynn to discuss the editorial “75 Years of Transforming Teacher Education,” which they coauthored earlier this year for the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE). In celebrating the Association’s 75th anniversary, their dialogue will focus on AACTE’s historic support of educators and the imperative of learning from those efforts moving forward. AACTE members can access the article on the JTE site.
Following Lynn and Leslie’s conversation, participants will be invited to join in the discussion and ask questions. The first session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Register today for the Lunch with Lynn – 75th Anniversary Edition.
15 Aug2023
Sets the Stage for Educator Workforce Policy and Practice
By AACTE
AACTE President and CEO Dr. Lynn M. Gangone recently addressed a cohort of Hunt Kean Leadership Fellows during a policy discussion titled, “Setting the Stage: Educator Workforce Policy and Practice.” The discussion was part of the second in-person session for the Cohort 9 Fellows. Gangone was joined by Dr. Melody Schopp, former chief state school officer of South Dakota, in examining how the teaching profession has changed over time, the advocacy and political influence of educators, and major issues facing the workforce.
A program of the Hunt-Kean Institute, the Leadership Fellows program partners with senior-level political leaders to be effective, equity-minded education policymakers at the state level. Named for two former renowned education governors, Jim Hunt (D-NC) and Tom Kean (R-NJ), the national, nonpartisan Fellowship launched in the fall of 2014. The current group of high-ranking elected state officials that make up Cohort 9 have committed themselves to a nine-month immersion in the full education continuum.
During the moderated session, Gangone shed light on the developments AACTE members are undertaking to address the needs of the educator workforce, sharing three specific examples: 1) embracing competency-based education at the undergraduate level, 2) offering higher education-based alternative certifications and 3) debunking the one teacher-one classroom model as addressed by AACTE member-institution Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University.
19 Jun2023
By AACTE
While traveling throughout Scandinavia to attend the International Women’s Forum conference, AACTE President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone took time in Helsinki, Finland to visit with Katarina Murto, president, Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö OAJ, the Finnish Teachers Union.
25 Oct2022
By Lynn M. Gangone
With the onset of a new academic year, AACTE is optimistic about the future of the profession as there has been positive movement in policies and legislation that addresses the challenges educators and educator preparation programs face. However, to maintain forward momentum, we must continue to advocate at the local, state, and federal levels.
As an education leader, your voice matters. That’s why I am asking you to participate in AACTE’s
75 Days | 75 Ways to Advocate for Education campaign. Developed to mark AACTE’s 75th anniversary, the movement centers around raising national awareness of ways to advocate for change that ensures every student has a highly trained and qualified teacher in their classroom and equitable education is available for all learners.
18 Oct2022
By Lynn M. Gangone
Greetings! As we are entering the final months of 2022 and AACTE is strategically planning for the year ahead, I wanted to share some prodigious achievements we have made over the year and updates from our recent Board of Directors’ meeting.
Given the scope and scale of the teacher shortage, at the Board of Directors’ meeting, we determined that we should evaluate all current and new opportunities based on whether they will contribute to increasing enrollment in educator preparation programs. We are calling this our “North Star.” The strategic priorities of the association won’t change. Still, we will emphasize the near term on addressing the teacher shortage, understanding that by doing so thoughtfully and carefully, we can advance our priorities in advocacy, DEI, and advancing educator prep policy, practice, and research. I am also pleased that our Strategic Priority, “Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” has been changed to “Prioritizing DEI” because it better reflects AACTE’s emphasis on racial and social justice and equity.
