Anne Tapp Jaksa of Saginaw Valley State University Assumes Role as AACTE Board Chair

(Feb. 25, 2025, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) welcomes Anne Tapp Jaksa, Ph.D., professor of teacher education at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), into her role as the 2025-26 chair of the AACTE Board of Directors. 

For the next year, Jaksa will serve alongside AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D., in prioritizing the Association’s commitment to advancing educator preparation through educating, advocating, and innovating to meet the needs of the ever-changing landscape. She succeeds Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Ph.D., professor emeritus of California State University, Long Beach. 

“AACTE is honored to welcome Dr. Anne Tapp Jaksa as the new chair of our Board of Directors,” said AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D. “Anne is a dedicated advocate for teacher education, a respected researcher, and a leader who has consistently championed inclusion and innovation in our field. Her passion and expertise will be invaluable as we continue our mission to advance educator preparation and address the pressing challenges in education today.” 

Tapp Jaksa is a Professor of Teacher Education at Saginaw Valley State University for graduate and undergraduate programs within the College of Education. She previously served as the chair of the Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR), and Midwest Region Representative, and is past president of the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Tapp Jaksa is the educator in residence at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Board of Directors. She also serves as a director of professional development for the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula and co-director of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design and Usability Research Team.  

Tapp Jaksa’s research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration, and is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences on those topics and has published many articles, book chapters, and texts. She earned her doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State University. 

“Stepping into the role of chair of the AACTE Board of Directors is both an honor and a promise to uphold the values that enhance the educational experience for our nation’s learners,” Tapp Jaksa said. “Comprehensive educator preparation has made a profound impact in our nation’s classrooms in the 21st century, and now, more than ever, AACTE’s community of education preparation programs must come together to drive innovation and continue to modernize how we prepare educators. I am eager to lead and collaborate with the board to strengthen our collective efforts in shaping a workforce that is equipped to meet the evolving needs of PK-12 students.” 

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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. Learn more at aacte.org.