AACTE applauds the Council of Chief State School Officers' 2013 National Teacher of the Year Jeffrey Charbonneau, the three additional finalists and the colleges and schools of education that helped prepare all of them for their highly successful careers.

Charbonneau, who is also the 2013 Washington Teacher of the Year, teaches chemistry, physics and engineering at Zillah High School (WA). He completed his undergraduate and graduate preparation at the Central Washington University (CWU) College of Education & Professional Studies, earning a bachelor's degree in biology education, teaching certificates in both biology and broad area science, and a master's degree in education.

AACTE appreciates President Obama's and the Administration's overall increased investment in education in his FY 2014 budget proposal. However, the Association believes the proposal lacks a vision for the future of effective educator preparation programs.