Update: Reconceptualizing Educator Preparation Town Halls

In September 2020, we held a second College-wide Town Hall to discuss recommendations from the Reconceptualizing Teacher Preparation working groups that met in spring 2020. Town Hall participants agreed to focus the College’s efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) to concentrate efforts during this challenging time with COVID-19. A steering committee to lead this work was formed in November 2020, including faculty representation from five College departments and two Clarke County School District partners.

The DEI/SEL Reconceptualizing Teacher Education Steering Committee is charged with developing the scope and processes needed to infuse DEI and SEL throughout all educator preparation programs in the College, including teachers, counselors, school psychologists, and school administrators, to effectively prepare educators to meet the needs of P-12 students.

The committee is meeting monthly during the spring 2021 semester to design an educator preparation DEL/SEL plan and programming that includes strategies such as:

  • Ongoing professional learning, seminars, and critical conversations for College faculty and staff and community partners (including school personnel and families)
  • College course redesign

Further updates will be provided as programming develops.

Steering Committee members include:

  • Kristen Bub, associate professor, Department of Educational Psychology (applied cognition and development)
  • Jamon Flowers, clinical assistant professor, Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy (educational administration and policy)
  • Ashlee Holsey, counselor, Clarke Central High School, Clarke County School District
  • Sherell McArthur, assistant professor, Department of Educational Theory and Practice (elementary education)
  • Kim Viel-Ruma, clinical associate professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education (special education)
  • Jillian Whatley, executive director of student services, Clarke County School District
  • Dorothy White, professor, Department of Mathematics and Science Education (mathematics education)

The Steering Committee is supported by associate deans Marian Higgins and Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett and Erica Gilbertson, interim director of the Office of School Engagement.

from 
Current Issue