Education faculty present at NCACTE fall forum

Three faculty in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education presented at the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Teacher Education (NCACTE) 39th Annual Teacher Education Forum. In addition, one alumnae was recognized as a finalist for the North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year award.

The North Carolina Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NCACTE) held the 39th Annual Teacher Education Forum on Thursday, Sept. 23 through Saturday, Sept. 25. The theme of the virtual forum was “Rethink, Reshape, Reimagine, Revolutionize: Growing the Profession Post Pandemic.”

During the general session, Madison Clark ’21, elementary education alumnae, was recognized as a North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year finalist for her accomplishments during the 2020-2021 academic year. Clark and other finalists were honored during the NCACTE Fall Forum. Highlights about Clark’s teaching and dedication to her learners were shared by Terry Tomasek, associate professor of education and director of the Elon Academy, and Katie Baker, assistant professor of education and her clinical teacher.

Allison Bryan, director of the Curriculum Resources Center, and Erin Hone, senior lecturer in education, presented, “Rethinking Grading: An Ongoing Conversation” during the assessment focused session. During their presentation they discussed how they have changed their grading practices in Teacher Education, aspects they have recently taken into consideration to gain a broader understanding of their students’ progress, as well as limitations and questions they continue to ponder within this ongoing conversation.

Stephen Byrd, associate professor of education, presented “Overcoming Compassion Fatigue in the Caring Professions” during the diversity, equity and inclusion focused session. Educational professionals can experience compassion fatigue which has been defined as a reaction to an over exposure to human suffering resulting in feelings of burnout, secondary traumatic stress and depersonalization. In his presentation, he shared the current research in this area and key strategies for well-being for teaching and for teacher education.

Membership in the NCACTE includes faculty within private and public institutions and public agencies across North Carolina that foster teacher education. The annual fall forum is a two-day conference that focuses upon collaboration among members. National and state speakers highlight the program that also features research presentations in concurrent sessions by members.