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SPECIAL STUDY GROUPS (SSG)

SSGs were established in 1988 by the Board of Directors to provide a forum for AACTE representatives and other interested persons to come together and discuss topics of interest. Applications to establish an SSG requires an action by AACTE's Board of Directors, and each applying group must have a requisite number of representatives from AACTE member institutions, as well as a statement of purpose that indicates a contribution to the practice of teacher education.

To date there are twelve SSGs (described below). Anyone wishing to join an existing SSG should contact that SSG's chair directly, and anyone wishing to establish a new SSG should contact AACTE.

ADMISSION AND RETENTION

Alicia Ardila-Rey
AACTE
tel: 202/293-2450
fax: 202/457-8095
e-mail: aardila-rey@aacte.org

The purpose of this SSG is to examine issues around admission and retention in teacher education. Areas for discussion will include existing admissions policies and procedures of different institutions, legal issues around admissions, ways of attracting underrepresented groups into teaching, existing research on admission and retention, future research and specific problems encountered related to admission and retention.

ARTS AND SCIENCES COLLABORATION WITH TEACHER EDUCATION

Dr. Elaine Stotko
John Hopkins University
6740 Alex Bell Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
tel: 410/309-1289
fax: 410/290-0467

The purpose of this SSG is to investigate and develop articulation between teacher education programs and arts and sciences programs. This SSG will be organized around five major themes of collaboration:

  1. subject matter understanding,
  2. general and liberal education,
  3. pedagogical content knowledge,
  4. multicultural, international and other human perspectives, and
  5. recruitment of underrepresented groups into teaching.

     

DEANS OF COLOR

Dr. Clara Jennings
School of Education
DePaul University
2320 North Kenmore Ave
Chicago, IL 60614-3250
tel: 773/325-7581
fax: 773/325-7728

The Deans of Color is an organized group of education deans and interested others dedicated to identifying, retaining, and promoting individuals of color into leadership positions. The group's perspectives represent voices that are frequently lost in conversations pertaining to the practice of teaching and teacher education. By definition, the group relates to all SSGs and standing committees.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Dr. Catheryn J. Weitman
School of Education
Barry University
11300 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695
tel: 305/899-4026
fax: 305/899-3718
e-mail: cweitman@mail.barry.edu

The purpose of this SSG is to

  1. provide members with an avenue in which to study issues relative to elementary education,
  2. keep both members and the association abreast of new developments and research in elementary education, and
  3. develop a communication network among individuals interested in issues in elementary education.

     

GLOBAL AND INTERNATIONAL TEACHER EDUCATION

Dr. Jean Benton
Coordinator of International Programs
Elementary, Early, and Special Education
College of Education
Southeast Missouri State University
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
tel: 573/651-2440
e-mail: jbenton@semovm.semo.edu.
Web site: www5.semo.edu/international/GITEssg/index.htm

The purpose of this SSG is to bring together a network of interested representatives from member institutions to share their experiences and ideas about preparing educators for our global society.

HISTORICALLY BLACK INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS

Dr. Walter Mercer
College of Education
Florida A&M University
Box 106
Tallahassee, FL 32307
tel: 850/561-2440
e-mail: walter.mercer@famu.edu

The general purpose of this SSG is to provide a network of representatives at historically Black colleges and universities to address teacher education related concerns and other issues of mutual interest. The specific purposes include the following:

  1. to review the status of teacher education related concerns to ascertain emerging needs,
  2. to initiate and encourage studies of teacher education related concerns, and
  3. to disseminate information about teacher education related concerns and issues of mutual interest.

     

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

Dr. Deneese L. Jones
Dean, College of Education and Human Services
201 High Street Hull Hall #137
Longwood University
tel: 434/395-2051
e-mail: jonesdl@longwood.edu

The purpose of this SSG is to provide its members an avenue in which to study issues relative to multicultural education, and to enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skills in becoming effective teachers with our spiraling multiracial and multiethnic populations. The SSG will seek to incorporate the various facets of multicultural education, nonsexist education, human relations and related issues on stereotyping, conceptualizing multicultural education programs that integrate curriculum and instruction with ways to diminish prejudice, and providing an approach to multicultural education that is suitable and effective for use in the classrooms.

PARAEDUCATORS (has 2 cochairs)

Dr. Michael Genzuk
Director, Center for Multilingual, Multicultural Research
Rossier School of Education
University of Southern California
WpH Suite 1101
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0031
tel: 213/740-2360
e-mail: genzuk@bcf.usc.edu
_______________________
Nancy K. French, Ph.D
Director, The PARA Center
University of Colorado at Denver
1380 Lawrence St., Suite 650
Denver, CO 80204
tel: 303/556-6464
fax: 303/556-6142
e-mail nancy.french@cudenver.edu
Internet: paracenter.cudenver.edu

This study group is dedicated to the proposition that many of tomorrow's most successful teachers may well be drawn from the ranks of today's paraeducators, i.e., those teaching assistants who work daily in classrooms with certified teachers. The purposes of this SSG are to:

  1. provide an opportunity for AACTE institutional representatives and others to be involved in Association activities,
  2. initiate and encourage studies on paraeducator-to-teacher issues,
  3. provide an opportunity for members to share research on issues as well as information of teacher education programs specifically designed for this population,
  4. develop policy recommendations for broad scale initiatives which capitalize on the findings of the SSG's research, and
  5. develop a communication network among individuals and institutions interested in providing pathways for paraeducators to become teachers.

     

RACE AND RACISM IN TEACHER EDUCATION

Dr. Lupe Martinez
Department of Early Childhood
and Elementary Education
Metropolitan State College
Campus Box 21
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362
tel: 303/556-6227
e-mail: martinlu@mscd.edu

The purpose of this SSG is to begin a dialogue around the issues of race and racism and how they impact teacher education K-through doctoral level training. The SSG will focus on pre-service training of teachers, counselors, and administrators, as well as the continuing education of current teacher educators. An additional focus of the group will be to keep the issues of race and racism and their impact on teacher education foremost on the agenda of the organization.

SERVICE-LEARNING

Dr. Teresa Davis
Associate Professor
California State University-Chico
Tehama 407
Chico, CA 95929-0460
tel: 530/898-6852
e-mail: TMDavis@csuchico.edu

The general purpose of this SSG is to facilitate the integration of high-quality service learning into teacher education programs. Specific purposes of the SSG are to

  1. provide a forum to share research and experiences regarding service learning in teacher education,
  2. develop a communication network for members interested in service learning in teacher education and
  3. initiate, encourage, and disseminate studies pertaining to service learning in teacher education.
Find the Service Learning SSG newsletters here:
http://www.augsburg.edu/education/aacte-ssg/

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION

Dr. Nena Torrez
School of Education
California State University, San Bernardino
3107 N. G Street
San Bernardino, 92407-2397
tel: 909/808-5992
e-mail: ntorrez@csusb.edu

The purpose of this SSG is to 1) have a network of individuals interested in teaching and doing research in the social and cultural foundations of education; 2) encourage research on interpretative, normative, and critical issues as they bear upon the preparation of aspiring and practicing educators; 3) provide an opportunity for members to share their research in the social and cultural foundations of education; 4) cultivate informal relationships with professional organizations interested in the development of the historical, philosophical, sociological, and anthropological foundations of education in educator preparation programs, and 5) disseminate information about the social and cultural educational foundations to interested parties.

WOMEN IN THE DEANSHIP

Dr. Sandra B. Damico
Dean, College of Education
University of Iowa
N459 Lindquist Center
Iowa City, IA 52242
tel: 319/335-5380
e-mail: sandra-damico@uiowa.edu

The purpose of this SSG is to:

  1. develop a communication network among members interested in women in the deanship,
  2. initiate, encourage, and disseminate studies of women in the deanship,
  3. assist prospective members in considering a pursuing career opportunities leading to the deanship, and
  4. offer members opportunities to enhance professional and personal success in concert with the deanship.

 

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