Welcome to PAC-TE

PAC-TE is a nonprofit professional association for all those in Pennsylvania who
are engaged in the preparation and development of professional educators. 

PAC-TE is dedicated to providing strong advocacy for professional educator
preparation within the Commonwealth. 

The purpose of PAC-TE as the voice for professional educator preparation in
Pennsylvania is to promote quality professional educator preparation programs and
to provide opportunity for individual professional growth for all persons in Pennsylvania
engaged in professional educator preparation.

PAC-TE MISSION, VISION, VALUES STATEMENT

PAC-TE’s mission is to advance and advocate for quality professional educator preparation programs.

PAC-TE’s vision is to be the leading voice in advancing equitable, inclusive, exemplary professional educator preparation.  Our vision is realized through dynamic partnerships, advocacy, research, professional development, and dissemination of evidence-based practices in Pre-K through Higher Education.

PAC-TE values:

  • Diversity – Diversity and inclusion strengthen the teaching profession and cultivate educational environments that are empathetic and responsive to teacher, student, and community needs.
  • Common purpose – Engaging the range of educator preparation programs and professionals in Pennsylvania fosters comprehensive and shared understanding of unity in the goals and needs of educator preparation
  • Collaboration – Facilitating purposeful conversation and action among stakeholders inspires sustainable, relevant, and innovative educator preparation.
  • Advocacy – Advancing high quality educator preparation and practice promotes the general welfare.
  • Scholarship – The development and application of knowledge and skills addresses the dynamic needs of educational institutions.

DATES TO KNOW/MARK YOUR CALENDARS

November 1 -30 -- PAC-TE Elections

April 13, 2021 – PAC-TE Annual Spring Conference

 

PA Teacher Educator Now Available

The PAC-TE Journal (a peer-reviewed publication) is now available (including back issues).  Please click here for access.

PAC-TE Strategic Plan

The Board of Directors of PAC-TE approved a new strategic plan in 2020.  PAC-TE's Strategic Plan is organized around four major areas: Administration, Membership Expansion, Membership Engagement,and Advocacy.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE UPDATE
ON SENATE BILL 1216

SB 1216 was signed into law and is known as ACT 136.  The bill includes many important provisions for teacher education.  The legislation gives the Secretary of Education the ability to:

  • Continue approving Pk-8 and 7-12 Special Education certifications for teacher candidates who are continuously enrolled and started their programs prior to December 31, 2021
  • Waive basic skills testing through June 30, 2021 (please see note below)
  • Issue temporary provisional certificates to program completers who meet all requirements except the satisfactory completion of the assessments required pursuant to 22 Pa Code 49.18© because the assessments were c anceled or could not be scheduled

It is very important to understand that this does not mean that basic skills testing requirements have been waived or that provisional ce3rtification will no be implemented.  The bill gives the Secretary of Education the ability to enact these as needed.  It will be important to look for PDE updates on how the legislation will be implemented.

          PAC-TE is a state unit of AACTE and ATE
 

49TH ANNUAL TEACHER EDUCATOR ASSEMBLY
October 28-30, 2020


HISTORIC 49TH TEA IS NOW HISTORY

It began a bit sketchy with some "Zoom" issues, but continued through Wednesday, Thursday, and ended Friday afternoon following the TEA Planning
Committee meeting. Not only was our 49th TEA the FRIST VIRTUAL TEA but it also had the highest number of registered attendees
in quite a few years - 298.

Some of the highlights of the 49th TEA were:

  • The GRC session that included Kelley Thompson (PSEA) - the topic was the future of the Basic Skills Test
  • A "Conversation with the Secretary of Education" - PA's Interim Secretary of Education, Noe Ortega
  • The Annual Awards Ceremony with the presentation of plaques/comments for retiring board members, the Executive Directors' Scholarship
    (Ariana Ramos - Villanova)
  • The "Friend of Education" Award to Dr. Jim Nolan (PSU - Retired)
  • The awarding of the Professional Achievement Award for Exemplary Service/Partnership (Mary Becker, Maria Agnew - Alpha House affiliated with
    Holy Family University
  • A stimulating/spot-on Founders' Lecture by Dr. Elena Aydarova from Auburn University
  • A session with Donna-Marie Cole-Malott and David Monk (both with PDE)
  • A successful "Meet the Candidates" for PAC-TE Board
  • Our annual PDE Update with Debra Heath-Thornton
  • Two journal sessions - meet the authors
  • Two Works-in-Progress session (new this year) - presenters gaining input into their research from attendees
  • PAC-TE's Annual Prize Drawing on the final day of the TEA:
    • Two $75 Amazon Gift Cards (Beatrice Andrea and Gina Scala)
    • "Comped" registration to the spring conference (David Timony)
    • "Comped" registration to the 2021 TEA (Jody Bornstein)

Finally, we would like to thank our 49th TEA sponsors for their continuing support of our Teacher Educator Assemblies:

OCDEL (Office of Child Development and Early Learning -- Platinum sponsor
Educational Testing Service -- Gold sponsor
Pearson Publishing -- Gold Sponsor

We look forward to continuing our relationship with these fine groups.

 

 

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Spring Conference Preparation in Full Swing!
During the annual meeting of PAC-TE, Bev Bryde, Chair of the 2020 Spring Conference (that was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic) informed those gathered that the 2021 Spring Conference will have the same theme and hopefully the same speakers as was scheduled for 2020 EXCEPT THIS TIME, they will be planning ahead in the event the pandemic is still raging.

The plan is for the conference to be held at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Penn State University, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Plans are being considered for having the conference be totally virtual (if COVID is still an issue) or hybrid in the event some folks would rather attend via their computers while others attend in-person. Additional information will be forthcoming in the coming months so, STAY TUNED!!!!