AACTE Annual Meeting Brings the Future of Ed Prep to Colorado

(Feb. 14, 2024, Washington, D.C.) — The AACTE (American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education) 2024 Annual Meeting is set to bring changemakers nationwide and abroad in the realm of teacher and educator preparation to the state of Colorado Feb. 16 – 18, in Aurora at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.

The 2024 meeting’s theme, “Ascending New Heights: Propelling the Profession into the Future,” promises a deep dive into the continuous evolutions made by colleges of education nationwide to meet the needs of the educators and the PK-12 students they serve.

“The theme of ‘Ascending New Heights’ resonates profoundly with the current landscape of educator preparation,” said Anne Tapp, Ed.D., incoming chair of AACTE’s Board of Directors. “In a world where innovation is paramount, and the demands on educators are constantly evolving, it is imperative that we embrace the spirit of progress and growth to empower the workforce that is shaping the future of education.”

Colorado Commissioner of Education Susana Córdova will open the meeting on Friday, Feb. 16, with her keynote “Starting Strong: Improving Student Outcomes through Focused Educator Preparation.” Córdova previously served as superintendent of Denver Public Schools (DPS), where her priorities focused on breaking historical patterns of inequity.

Washington Post education journalist Valerie Strauss will moderate a keynote session on Saturday, Feb. 17, titled “The Future of American Democracy, Public Schools, and National Security: What This Means for the Future of Education and the Professions.” Strauss will be joined by AACTE Dean in Residence Leslie T. Fenwick, Ph.D., Sigal Ben-Porath, Ph.D. of the University of Pennsylvania, and Kevin Welner, Ph.D., of the University of Colorado Boulder. The session is informed by research published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which indicates that “liberal democracy is in crisis where it was long thought most securely established.”

The closing keynote address will feature Howard Teibel, president of Teibel Education Consulting. Teibel’s long-term studies of organizational and personal growth will inform his keynote session, “Cultivating Resiliency in Times of Change,” where he will discuss the seismic changes happening in higher education and how educator preparation programs (EPPs) can come out on top.

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About AACTE

Established in 1948, AACTE is the leading voice in educator preparation. AACTE’s member institutions and programs prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and college faculty. These professional educators are prepared for careers in PK-12 classrooms, colleges and universities, state and governmental agencies, policy institutes, and non-profit organizations. The AACTE alliance of colleges and universities and educator preparation programs collaborates with members and partners to advance the field of education by prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and engaging in research-based inquiry, advocacy, and innovative practice. Learn more at aacte.org.