NJACTE is proud to share that President LaChan Hannon and President-Elect Kate Spence once again represented New Jersey during the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Washington Week 2026, held June 1–3 in Washington, D.C.
Washington Week brings together educator preparation leaders, state association officers, deans, faculty, students, and K–12 partners from across the country to engage directly with federal policymakers and advocate for a stronger educator workforce. The annual event provides an important platform for discussing national education priorities and the policies that impact teacher preparation programs and the future of the profession.
As leaders of NJACTE, Dr. Hannon and Dr. Spence participated in sessions designed specifically for state affiliate leaders through the State Leaders Institute, which focuses on current policy issues, effective association leadership, and coalition building. They also joined colleagues from around the nation in advocacy training and congressional outreach efforts, culminating in meetings with members of Congress and their staff during the event’s signature Day on the Hill activities.
Washington Week continues to be a valuable opportunity for NJACTE leadership to ensure that New Jersey’s educator preparation community has a voice in national conversations about teacher recruitment, preparation, retention, and workforce development. Through their participation, Dr. Hannon and Dr. Spence reinforced NJACTE’s commitment to advancing policies that support high-quality educator preparation and strengthen the educator pipeline for schools across New Jersey and beyond.