AACTE President/CEO to Retire in July 2017

(October 18, 2016, Washington, D.C.) – The Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) today announced the planned departure of President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sharon P. Robinson. After more than a decade at AACTE, Robinson will retire in July 2017.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to thank Dr. Robinson for her many contributions to AACTE,” said AACTE Board of Directors Chair Dr. Jane Bray. “Since 2005, Dr. Robinson has led AACTE to achievements well beyond our expectations and has challenged our profession to aspire to great heights. AACTE is met with mixed feelings as Dr. Robinson deservingly transitions into retirement. We are happy for her next phase of life and grateful for her wonderful tenure, yet we realize she leaves a cavernous hole for us to fill.”

“Dr. Robinson has steered our organization through a critical period of development and growth, even when the financial and political climate threatened to set us back,” Bray continued. “Under her leadership, AACTE has not merely survived but forged ahead with strategic action to unify the profession, boost our voice in the policy arena, strengthen program quality, and improve the field’s capacity to serve diverse learners. We expect the new president and CEO to build on the foundation she has created.”

About her years at the organization, Robinson said, “It has been an honor to serve AACTE and its members around the country who carry out the important mission of preparing high-quality educators. I want to thank all of them for making my job so rewarding and enjoyable. I also want to thank the dozens of AACTE Board Members who have provided guidance and support to me and the organization, making sure that AACTE did the best job it could in helping to advance members’ innovative and effective programs. My 11 years at AACTE have been both stimulating and satisfying, and I offer special thanks to my staff colleagues who have been partners throughout my tenure.”

Robinson is only the fourth executive to lead AACTE since its founding in 1948. The Association has employed executive recruiting firm Russell Reynolds Associates to conduct the search for Robinson’s successor.

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About AACTE: The Leading Voice on Educator Preparation
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidence-based preparation that assures educators are profession-ready as they enter the classroom. The over 800 member institutions represent public and private colleges and universities in every state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Through advocacy and capacity building, AACTE promotes innovation and effective practices that strengthen educator preparation. Learn more at www.aacte.org.