The Reich College of Education’s (RCOE) Appalachian Community of Education Scholars (ACES) attended the annual Senior Professional Development Conference on October 2 - 3, 2020. Held virtually, the 40 seniors explored the themes of “Advocating for Success” and “Success in Your First Year and Beyond.”
The two-day conference featured a variety of professionals and teacher leaders, including individuals from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and RCOE faculty. Keynote speakers were:
- Freebird McKinney, Director of Legislative and Community Affairs at North Carolina State Board of Education and adjunct instructor at Elon University School of Education, and the 2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year;
- Maureen Stover, Science Educator at Cumberland International Early College High School, and the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year;
- Kimberly Tuttle, Grades 9-12 English Teacher at Levine Middle College High School, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools 2019 Teacher of the Year; and
- Tabari Wallace, Principal at West Craven High School, and the 2018 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. (Watch Wallace as a guest speaker on The Ellen Show.)
Students also had a selection of concurrent sessions from which to choose. Topics included:
- Collaborating and Advocating with Your School Board
- Queer Teaching 101
- Critical Consciousness in Teaching
- Supporting All Students
- Principals Panel
- Review of the North Carolina Teaching Standards.
The conference concluded with mock interviews and resume reviews, where students met in individual Zoom sessions with alumni ACES and teacher leaders in the RCOE’s Public School Partnership. Visit the conference website for more information.
The students, who are on the cusp of entering the teaching profession, found the conference engaging and meaningful.
“At this conference, we were able to see the reality of teaching during a pandemic but also leave us with a reminder of our ‘why’,” noted Alicia Biel, an elementary education major from Raleigh, North Carolina. “As for me personally this conference opened my eyes and really helped me solidify what I want to do with my life and my purpose.”
Omnie Grabs, an English secondary education major from King, North Carolina, stated, “Learning how to lead is learning how to follow.”
“By participating in the conversations of the past weekend and observing how those discussions were facilitated contributed to my development as a teacher leader,” he added.
Housed in the James Center for Student Success and Advising, the ACES program is a four-year program for future teachers, focusing on mentoring, leadership, service, and personal and professional development. The program’s mission is to develop teacher leaders who will positively impact the profession through their skills in critical thinking, collaboration, reflective practice, and advocacy for equity and inclusion. The Senior Professional Development Conference is the capstone in a series of opportunities for the students. Other experiences include:
- Seminar on Teacher Leadership course,
- Immersive Enrichment Trip with a focus on an urban school district, and
- School District Orientation.
“All of these experiences have always been significant in providing professional development and support to our teacher education majors,” said Megan Kasper, Assistant Director for Student Engagement. “And we are able to continue them in a virtual setting without sacrificing quality or learning outcomes.”
ACES Senior Professional Development Conference
