I am so grateful to each one of you for your contributions to our shared work in my first year as President. NJACTE is an entirely volunteer-run membership association. Each of us has our own busy professional and personal life, yet month after month, we continue to make time to support quality educator preparation. I keep saying this, but the level of enthusiasm, dedication, and participation from our membership continues to amaze and inspire me.
The committee structure I inherited from Past-President, Dr. Stacey Leftwich has given us a format that allows members to lend their time and expertise towards our many, various initiatives. Here are just a few highlights from this year.
Our Legislative Committee has taken up working with our legislative consultant, Princeton Public Affairs Group, to continue to track pending legislation, while always looking for ways we can “get a seat at the table” earlier and earlier in the process.
Our Program Improvement Collaborative (formerly the Performance Assessment Working Group) has expanded its focus to enable members to share, collaborate and participate in thinking around various demands facing New Jersey’s educator preparation programs (EPPs).
The Convening on Diversifying the Teacher Workforce celebrated its 6th year with a hybrid event over the course of three dates, with speakers sharing their vital research on the many facets of what it means to diversify the teacher workforce.
The Day of Assessment hosted another successful virtual conference, showcasing work in assessment, accreditation, and program evaluation, with attendees from across the country.
The Social Justice Committee continued to build community through shared reading on the various areas of social justice and how we can elevate it in our work as educators.
Finally, I am pleased that NJACTE was able to once again sponsor the NJDOE Distinguished Clinical Intern and Cooperating Teacher Award Ceremony, to spotlight our shining seniors who are getting ready to begin their careers in the classroom.
I look forward to seeing everyone in September for my concluding academic year as President. I hope you all have time to rest and rejuvenate this summer!
Submitted by:
Amy Kline, Ed.D.
President, NJACTE
Associate Dean, College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, Seton Hall University