SUNY Chancellor Advances National Strategy for Transforming Teacher Education

San Diego, CA – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today presented the national strategy for transforming teacher education through clinical practice at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).

“Teaching, like medicine, is a profession of practice, and making clinical preparation the centerpiece of teacher education will transform the way we prepare teachers,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “Educators at every level in eight states across the country are implementing this new vision in their classrooms and lecture halls and I am pleased to be discussing with AACTE members today.”

"One element of AACTE's reform agenda is enhancing the rigor of the clinical component in educator preparation programs," said Sharon P. Robinson, president and CEO of AACTE. "Nancy's leadership within higher education to help move toward a clinical model of developing the education workforce is sincerely appreciated."

View this event live at http://www.livestream.com/AACTE or in archive at http://vimeo.com/aacte.

In November, Chancellor Zimpher, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Dwight Jones, former Commissioner of Colorado, co-chair of panel, and other national education leaders announced the findings of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Clinical Preparation and Partnerships for Improved Student Learning, convened by NCATE – The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Eight states, including New York, are implementing the panel's recommendations.

At the State University of New York, a SUNY Urban Rural Teacher Corp is under development to train teachers to meet the unique learning needs of students in urban and rural schools through rich academic and clinical experiences.

Last week, Chancellor Zimpher also presented the new national strategy at the annual meeting of the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE). A video of her presentation is available online.

“The findings of the Blue Ribbon Panel mark the beginning of a new approach to teacher education in America,” said ATE Executive Director David A. Ritchey. “Our members - approximately 1,500 teacher educators from across the country - were completely energized by Chancellor Zimpher’s explanation of the panel’s work and ATE is now committed to carrying out the panel’s recommendations as we seek to ensure that America’s classrooms are populated with teachers of the highest quality.” 

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with more than 2.5 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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