Posts Tagged ‘teacher leaders’

AACTE is Co-Hosting National Symposium for Educator Preparation, Policy, and Leadership

Registration is Open



AACTE is co-hosting the 2024 National Symposium for Educator Preparation, Policy, and Leadership. The symposium will bring together teachers, university/college faculty, education deans, teacher leaders, school district personnel and superintendents, state licensure and certification professionals, education leaders, and state and federal policymakers to identify and highlight effective and equitable strategies, resources, policies and practices to recruit, prepare, and retain an effective teacher workforce with a focus on teachers from historically marginalized communities.

Co-Teaching Coast-to-Coast: Virtual Conversations and Co-Teaching Engagement Awards

The AACTE Co-Teaching in Clinical Practice Topical Action Group (TAG) recently wrapped up two exciting initiatives focused on bringing teacher preparation faculty together with administrators and teachers in schools across the country. A recurring theme coming from our TAG activities emphasizes the need for systemic change, something that will most effectively occur with collaboration across institutions and school-university partners.

Teacher preparation institutional partnerships with local school districts where co-teaching is valued seem to be increasing expertise for clinical interns, practitioners, and the higher education teacher preparation faculty involved.

UH College of Education Professor Selected as 2023 Obama Foundation Global Leader

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education (COE) Professor of Mathematics Education Linda Furuto has been selected as one of 105 Obama Foundation Global Leaders. The program trains participants around the world in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Furuto will be among just 34 leaders participating in the Asia-Pacific program, representing a cohort of 22 countries/territories across the region.

“I can’t think of anyone more qualified than Linda to represent the COE as an Obama Leader,” Department of Curriculum Studies Chair Patricia Espiritu Halagao said. “Her cutting-edge work with ethnomathematics and involvement as the UH Ambassador to the PVS Moananuiākea Voyage will greatly contribute to better understanding how education can serve our global communities. And, above all, she exudes the values of a humble, caring, and committed servant leader.”

AACTE Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week May 8-12

AACTE is pleased to honor P-20 educators during National Teacher Appreciation Week. Typically held the first full week of May, this week is dedicated to America’s educators who commit their lives to service by educating, encouraging, and advocating for all students. Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s 1953 call to Congress to create a National Day of Recognition for Teachers, and through the contributions of both the National Education Association (NEA) and National Parent Teacher Organization (PTA), America celebrated its first Teacher Appreciation Week in 1984.

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.

New TAG Highlights Principal Preparation

Education leaders will have an opportunity to join the new Principal Preparation and Support Topical Action Group (TAG) under the theme, “Strong Educational Leaders Retain Strong Teachers.” The new TAG will host its first gathering during the AACTE 2023 Annual Meeting this week where you can meet our TAG leadership team, review the TAG goals, and discuss future work and collaborations.

Are you interested in the development of strong equity-focused leadership preparation and systems of support for sustainable leadership practices? Join us for the inaugural meeting reception in Indianapolis, Saturday February 25, 5:30 -7:00 p.m. in the Kentucky Room at the JW Marriot.

SchoolSims Webinar Highlights Research on the Impact of Simulations on School Leader Preparation

In the latest webinar hosted by SchoolSims, titled “Evidence of the Impact of Simulations on School Leader Development and Preparation,” a panel of experts in educational leadership discuss their research on school leader preparation and development and the impact of experiential learning opportunities through simulations. Panelists include including Sara Dexter, Ed.D., Jennifer Bailey, Ed.D., David De Jong, Ed.D., Mike Johanek, Ed.D., and Trent Grundmeyer, Ph.D.

The purpose of the webinar is to provide context for the potential impact of simulation practice as a targeted professional development method that may go beyond pre-service preparation and continue as a learning pathway for in-service school leaders and teachers by examining the most recent research on leadership and teacher development.

Teaching Innovators: A Spotlight on Special Education at Clemson University

This article was originally published by Clemson News and is reprinted with permission.

Catherine Griffith serves as a clinical associate professor of special education in the Department of Education and Human Development at Clemson University. She coordinates the Master of Education program in Special Education with emphases in academic and behavioral interventions and teaches coursework on individuals with learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders, intensive academic interventions, and applied behavior analysis.

Diana Lys Named President of NC Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

The School’s assistant dean for educator preparation and accreditation will lead state teacher preparation advocacy group until 2024

Diana Lys, Ed.D., assistant dean for educator preparation and accreditation at the UNC School of Education, was named the ninth president of the North Carolina Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NCACTE) on Thursday, Sept. 22, at the organization’s 40th annual Teacher Education Fall Forum held in Raleigh. 

NCACTE is the leading advocacy group for policy issues regarding teacher preparation in North Carolina, and its membership includes private and public educator preparation programs across the state. Lys will serve as NCACTE president until 2024.  

In the role she will have an opportunity to make direct impact on the success of teacher education and preparation in the state — and, ultimately, the success of students, educators, and schools. 

First-of-its-kind National Aspiring Principal Fellowship Now Available in 37 States and DC

Educators looking to become school leaders in 37 states and Washington, DC, can now enroll in the National Aspiring Principal Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind program created by national nonprofit New Leaders in partnership with distinguished historically Black institutions Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College to dramatically boost the number of principals of color leading K-12 schools across the country.

Don’t Delay: Last Chance to Register for the 2022 Leadership Academy

2022 Leadership Academy

Time is running out to join your colleagues at AACTE’s 2022 Leadership Academy! Whether just beginning your career in academic leadership, or a seasoned and experienced leader with years of experience, this reimagined Academy provides professional development that is essential and applicable to everyone. And at a registration price point lower than at any time in the last 10 years, there’s no better way to gain essential training while being mindful of your budget as well.

As the education climate continues to evolve, leaders today find themselves navigating a number of hot topics. At this year’s Leadership Academy, attendees will have an opportunity to explore these pressing items. Whether reviewing case studies that are “ripped from the headlines,” or interacting in roundtables to brainstorm solutions to problems of practice, participants are sure to walk away from this Academy with action items to implement upon returning to their institutions.

Exploring Leadership Academy Content: Navigating Difficult Situations

In this climate of ever-increasing polarization, where a recent study suggests that one third of the population cannot understand or empathize with differing points of view, the pressure on academic leaders to mitigate conflict is greater than ever. Add in the varying backgrounds of faculty and staff, as well as different work styles and remote environments, and you have the potential for a tense and anxious work environment. As a result, today’s academic leaders find themselves challenged to improve and advance their programs and institutions amidst an increasingly contentious climate.

At the same time, academic leaders find themselves navigating the media spotlight thrust upon their programs due to the politicization of education. Whether it’s national reporting, local coverage, or the various social media platforms, a picture of education and teacher preparation is being painted, with or without the perspective and insight of our educator preparation programs.

Why Attend AACTE’s 2022 Leadership Academy: Hear from This Year’s Participants

Earlier last month, AACTE announced that its signature, Leadership Academy convening would be returning in 2022 with a new, in-person format. The reimagined programming allows academic leaders to customize their learning experience while minimizing time spent out of the office. And at a reduced price point, attendees can participate in essential professional development while saving money on registration and hotel costs.

But why should new and seasoned leaders attend the Academy? Here’s what a few of this year’s confirmed registrants had to say regarding their decision to attend in 2022, and what they hope to gain from the experience:

A Focus on Leadership Academy Content: Implementing Strategic Planning at All Levels

2022 Leadership Academy

Over the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pace of change, and the time to respond to those changes, has seemingly accelerated. Today’s leaders are tasked with making informed decisions to solve new problems, but often with minimal information and without an opportunity for collaborative input. As a result, successful leaders are relying upon detailed, strategic plans as guides to ensure their decisions are in alignment with the goals and priorities of their institution and their constituents.

One benefit of strategic planning is that it creates a single, forward-focused vision. As a part of its strategic plan, AACTE aligns its ongoing commitment to high-quality educator preparation with its commitment to leveraging opportunities to address the future challenges that come from an ever-changing educational landscape. To that end, AACTE is working with deans, program chairs, and other academic leaders to ensure their strategic planning processes are forward-thinking and revolutionary, while also representative of the diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environments AACTE and its members want to create. To provide this support, AACTE is proud to offer the following session content in both the dean and chair strands of the 2022 Leadership Academy:

AACTE Leadership Academy Focus on Content: Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Practice

2022 Leadership Academy

In today’s world, diversity, equity, and inclusion can sometimes feel like simply buzzwords. They are trendy to say, and deemed important to acknowledge strategically, but are the actions taken by academic leaders truly enhancing diversity amongst our faculty and candidates? Is there a collective, shared sense of what equitable practices look like?  And most importantly, are the decisions of leaders today creating and cultivating spaces that are inclusive to all?

As a part of its strategic plan, AACTE and its members are committed to increasing the diversity of their faculty and the students they prepare, so that educators more accurately reflect the diversity within PK-12 schools. As such, AACTE firmly believes in the need to continually assist deans, program chairs, and other academic leaders in navigating and managing the ever-changing landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion within educator preparation. To that end, AACTE is proud to provide session content in both the dean and chair strands of the Leadership Academy that will address the following key questions:

  • Why is it important to foster and promote diversity, and develop inclusive environments?
  • What cultural implications do I need to attend to in the areas of teaching, research, and service?
  • What specific actions are necessary to address the cultural implications in the areas of teaching, research, and service?

Working within job-alike cohorts, attendees will engage in several activities designed to “disrupt” the normal thinking around diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Participants will define their own characteristics of what makes an equitable environment, and then with outside collaboration from peers, dig deeper to see just what gaps may need to be filled to create more inclusive practices and spaces. In the end, attendees will leave the session with an action list of practices to implement, which can be customized for their institution.

Don’t miss your chance to participate in this engaging and interactive look at diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic leadership.  Join us June 26-30, 2022, at the Renaissance International Plaza Hotel in Tampa, FL, where you can choose from one of three track options

  • New Chairs and Academic Leaders – June 26-28
  • New and Seasoned Deans – June 28-30
  • Full Conference (All Sessions) – June 26-30

Be sure to check out the schedule of content to be offered this year and reserve your spot today for AACTE’s new and improved Leadership Academy experience.