Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators

ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE 2026  --  Virtual Conference using the Whova Platform   

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Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Act 48 hours are available

Plenary Sessions:  No sessions will be recorded.

• Opening Session with PAC-TE Leaders
• PDE session with Rick Levis, Chief Talent Officer, who will offer time for Questions.  
• Wrap up and prize raffle, begins at approximately 4:35, after the PDE session.

Roundtables

• Navigating Changes in Education Policy & Advocacy, Panelists: Jim Preston, Robin Drogan, and Steph Gardner, PAC-TE Government Relations Committee --  A look at current policy (PDE and Governmental) and how it affects our programs, assessments and accreditations.  We will hear from our PACTE Government Relations Committee representative on current issues and look at our advocacy day at the Capital for planning purposes.
• Literacy & Reading Education, Panelists: Jackie Galbally, Vera Lee, Caherine McGeehan, and Shawn Watkins --  This roundtable will focus on current issues and innovations in literacy and reading education, including structured literacy approaches, science of reading requirements, early literacy screening practices, and coursework related to reading intervention. Participants will engage in collaborative discussion around program design, alignment with state and accreditation expectations, and challenges and successes in preparing teacher candidates to meet evolving literacy mandates.
  
• Collaboration to Support Teacher Recruitment: Partnering with K-12, Panelists: Faith Bullen, Melissa Figueroa-Douglas, and Katie Solic   --  Come to this session to learn about this creative collaboration to expand the teaching workforce within the Commonwealth! University and K-12 colleagues will share how their patience and perseverance led to the creation of PRIZE – Partnering in Raising Inclusive Zealous Educators.
• “Let’s Talk Clinical Practice: Field Supervision, Co-Teaching, and Dispositions,  Panelists: Rose Jagielo-Manion, Tina Selvaggi, and Sally Winterton --  This roundtable will center on strengthening clinical practice in educator preparation, including student teaching models, cooperating teacher preparation and training, co-teaching structures, and the design of early field experiences. Attention will also be given to supporting and assessing professional dispositions within clinical placements.
• Innovative Strategies to Address the Special Education Teacher Shortage,  Panelists: Carol Good, Anthony Serafini, Gina Scala, Ruth Auld, and Linda Rhen  -- Learn how leaders across Pennsylvania are responding to the urgent need for Special Education Teachers, School Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Teachers of the Deaf. Panelists will highlight the state’s Attract, Prepare, and Retain initiative, including grant opportunities and new accelerated certification pathways developed by universities and alternative providers. Presenters will also share innovative partnerships between schools, universities, and intermediate units that are helping recruit candidates, streamline preparation programs, and strengthen mentoring for future educators.
• Science Education in Teacher Preparation and Professional Learning: PA's Problematic Science Teacher Pipeline: Challenges and Opportunities, Panelists: Peter Licona, Brett Criswell, Jennifer Sciacca  --  This roundtable will bring together teacher educators to discuss current approaches, challenges, and innovations in science education within teacher preparation programs. Topics may include inquiry-based instruction, addressing common science misconceptions, integrating NGSS-aligned practices, supporting preservice teacher confidence in science teaching, and aligning coursework with PDE certification expectations. Participants will engage in facilitated discussion, share program models, and collaboratively explore ways to strengthen science preparation across certification bands.
• Grade Band Changes and Effects on Program Design and Credit Limit, Panelists: Caitlin Navarro, Mollie Sheppard  -- This roundtable session focuses on developing practical strategies (exemplars) for educational leaders and teacher preparation programs to adapt to shifting grade band requirements. The session explores how these changes impact program design, curriculum alignment, and credit limit constraints while maintaining high-quality instruction for students from Birth through Grade 6.
• Navigating the Change: Where are we with CRSE?   Panelists: Juliet Curci, Luca Poxon, Donna-Marie Cole-Malott, Sarah Eckert, and Miriam Witmer --  In this breakout session, we will hear from PAC-TE leaders on the state of affairs regarding increasing teacher diversity and promoting teacher practices that “respect and reflect student cultures across Pennsylvania.” This will be followed by our discussion of current concerns, navigating the change and connecting with next steps!
  

Special Sessions:

• Writing for the Journal: Tips for Prospective Authors   --   Wondering how to get your manuscript published? Interested in learning more about PAC-TE’s journal, the Pennsylvania Teacher Educator? Log on at 10:00 a.m. and meet the editorial team. Note: this session precedes the Opening Session.

• Dare to be Different: Choosing Resilience and Joy in Today's Classrooms --   In this motivational session that includes success stories, hard-won wisdom, poetry, mindset shifts, and moving quotes, Diane Manser—teacher, author, and founder of Teaching is Emotional®—shares how she chooses resilience and joy as the foundational pillars of her classroom, despite navigating the self-doubt and challenging classroom moments that universally connect all teachers. Through her 20-year teaching career, Diane has learned that identifying one’s emotional triggers and developing strategies to build emotional strength and resilience consistently reconnect teachers to why they began this work in the first place. Join Diane at the conclusion of the conference and leave inspired and renewed, wanting to share with others how to maintain the love we have for teaching.  Note: This session, designed with our PK-12 preservice teachers and their mentors/cooperating teachers, will run concurrently with the PDE session so that the conference can conclude by 5:00 p.m. All are welcome, but note that attending this session means you will not be able to catch the PDE session, which is not being recorded. 

Registration Policies:  Please note that membership in PAC-TE does not cover conference registration fees. Conferences require a separate registration fee.You are welcome to check with the PAC-TE Executive Director (joel@pac-te.org) as to your membership status.

Cost:   Now through March 24, 2026: PAC-TE Members: $75 / Non-members: $100

           March 25 (day of conference): PAC-TE members:  $100 /  Non-members: $125

Discounted registration is offered for groups of 3. Multiple groups of 3 can register from the same provider; 3 people is the required size for each group of 3. Registration for groups of 3 cannot be completed online, but requires a contact with PAC-TE's Executive Director. Contact joel@pac-te.org for more details.

Special discount for pre-service and student teachers, experience-based certificate holders (formerly called Intern), and their cooperating teachers/mentors:  $0 (FREE!) Contact joel@pac-te.org if you have a question.

Refund Policy:  Notice of cancellation of conference registration and request for refund of conference registration fees must be made in writing to PAC-TE's Executive Director no later than one week prior to the conference. All refund requests received after this date will be denied. A $25 administrative fee will be deducted from all conference refunds.