The New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE), in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Education, successfully hosted the 8th Annual New Jersey Convening to Diversify the Teacher Workforce this past fall. Over the course of three weeks, the convening brought together educators, policymakers, researchers, and advocates from across the state to explore this year’s theme: Expanding the Conversation – Neurodiversity in Policy, Practice, and Pedagogy. The series, co-chaired by Dr. Daniel Tulino of Stockton University and Michelle Brown-Grant of Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, highlighted the importance of centering neurodiversity as a vital dimension of educational equity and teacher diversity.
The convening opened with an in-person session at Bloomfield College of Montclair University, featuring remarks from Dr. Theodorea Regina Berry, Dean of the College of Education, and Dr. Kim Murray, Director of the Office of Special Education at the New Jersey Department of Education. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), who inspired attendees to reimagine inclusion in teacher preparation programs. Breakout sessions throughout the day examined key topics such as building inclusive pathways for diverse teachers, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and protecting autistic joy. A highlight of the day was the collaborative working lunch, where educators, school leaders, and community members engaged in structured dialogue to identify strategies for retention and belonging among New Jersey’s diverse educator workforce.
The convening continued virtually in Week 2 with “Voices from the Profession,” a panel moderated by Dr. Tulino. Panelists Dr. Amy Accardo, Dr. Casey Woodfield, Dr. Chelsea Tracy-Bronson, Nicky Schneider, and Morgan Diteranto shared insights on inclusive pedagogy, equitable teacher preparation, and the lived experiences of neurodivergent educators.
The Week 3 closing session, led by Dr. LaChan Hannon, President of NJACTE and Director of Teacher Preparation and Innovation at Rutgers University–Newark, featured presentations from Dr. Susan Baglieri (Montclair State University) and Dr. Bridget Turner (Essex County College). Their conversation illuminated the intersections of disability studies, race, and teacher education, emphasizing the need for teacher preparation programs that affirm the identities and experiences of neurodivergent learners and educators alike. The session ended with a clear promise to build schools where students, educators, and families can all thrive.
The 8th Annual Convening underscored the growing recognition that diversifying New Jersey’s teacher workforce includes embracing the full spectrum of human difference. Across three weeks of dialogue, participants advanced actionable strategies to design inclusive policies, equitable practices, and humanizing pedagogies that uplift neurodiverse and historically marginalized communities.
NJACTE and the convening planning committee extend sincere gratitude to its planning committee, sponsors, and institutional partners including Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, The College of New Jersey, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Felician University, Monmouth University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Rutgers University–Newark, and Stockton University.
For more information about the NJACTE Convening to Diversify the Teacher Workforce and upcoming events, visit www.njacte.org.