University of San Diego to Receive AACTE Award in Support of Global Diversity

(Feb. 19, 2014, Washington, D.C.) – The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) will present its 2014 Best Practice Award in Support of Global Diversity to the University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES). The award recognizes a school, college or department of education that fosters diversity, equity and global awareness as core elements of its educator preparation program(s). It will be presented March 1 at AACTE’s 66th Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

The AACTE Committee on Global Diversity, which reviews submissions for the award, selected the University of San Diego SOLES for its inclusive and advanced approach to diversity and for the internationalization of its program and curriculum. Among several points of strength, the university was commended for engaging in a concentrated effort to recruit and retain diverse faculty members who are representative of the community they serve.

In addition, the committee noted that the SOLES prioritizes the need to strengthen knowledge and understanding of issues of diversity, equity and global perspectives by supporting professional development and scholarship of all faculty. Candidates in the program are also provided the opportunity to participate in international student teaching activities that both enhance and contribute to candidate learning experiences in a global context.

“The School of Leadership and Education Sciences is honored to receive the prestigious AACTE Best Practice Award in Support of Global Diversity,” said Paula Cordeiro, Ed.D., dean of the SOLES. “We believe an international perspective is crucial in creating globally conscious teachers and preparing them for today and tomorrow. Our students participate in an international experience to gain this cross-cultural education immersion which develops their strengths in their selected area of teaching and readies them to nurture globally conscious citizens in their own diverse classrooms. AACTE’s recognition of our efforts is especially appreciated and rewarding.”

Find more information on AACTE’s 2014 award winners at www.aacte.org.

###

AACTE: Serving Learners
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to the highest quality professional development of teachers and school leaders in order to enhance PK-12 student learning. The 800 institutions holding AACTE membership represent public and private colleges and universities in every state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. AACTE’s reach and influence fuel its mission of serving learners by providing all school personnel with superior training and continuing education.