Meet our Board of Directors
PAC-TE Officers
President (through May 31, 2024)
Dr. John Ward
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Dr. John Ward serves as Dean of the College of Education at Kutztown University. John has his Ed.D. from the University of Memphis in Curriculum & Instruction. He holds have a masters degree in Special Education from the University of Detroit. He earned post-baccalaureate certification in secondary mathematics from the University of Detroit and his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Michigan. He has served as an educational foundations faculty member, a department chair, an interim associate dean, and a dean. He is a member of AACTE and ATE and attend the NAPDS conference and advocate for Professional Development School relationships. He was a PACTE board member from 2012-2018 representing PASSHE schools.
Immediate Past President (through May 31, 2024)
Dr. Gwen Price
Dr. Gwen Price earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Bucknell University as well as teacher certiication in that field. Subsequently earning Physics certification from IUP, she taught high school Chemistry and Physics for 15 years during which time she earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. Gwen then moved to Edinboro University where she became a member of the Middle & Secondary Education Department and later served as the Director of Accreditation & Program Improvement. Gwen serves as the Dean of the College of Education at PennWest University. She maintains a strong commitment to program improvement through effective use of assessment and accreditation, and enjoys her participation in PAC-TE as a way to connect, learn, share, and grow.
President-Elect (through May 31, 2024)
Dr. Tom Conway
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Dr. Tom Conway is Chairperson of the Teacher Education Department at Cabrini University. Dr. Conway has coordinated the Secondary Education programs. He has been Lead Faculty and Professor for the Greater Philadelphia Instructional Coach program (GPIC) and Early Learning Principal Instructional Coaching Program (ELPIC), which were both funded through PDE grants. He is currently Lead Faculty for Cabrini’s Educators’ Residency Program (ERP) that is funded through PDE’s current initiative to explore residency models for Pennsylvania. Dr. Conway serves as Co-Chair for the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) Taskforce on Addressing the Needs of Cooperating/Mentor/Associate Teachers in their Practices and Roles as Mentors and Supervisors of the Novice Teacher. In addition to this taskforce, Dr. Conway is Program Subcommittee Chairperson for ATE’s 2020 Summer Conference in Washington, DC and a member of the Public Relations Committee. Dr. Conway has also participated in AACTE’s Leadership Academy. He teaches methods and content area reading courses leading to Secondary Education certification on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research areas include instructional coaching/mentoring, leadership, educational technology, and socio-cultural issues. He also serves as an Associate Editor of the Pennsylvania Teacher Educator and was the interim Co-Editor of the journal for the 2019 edition. He enjoys living in the Philadelphia region because of the variety of cultural experiences the area provides.
Treasurer (through May 31, 2024)
Dr. Joseph Domaracki
Dr. Joseph Domaracki is a native of Bethel Park, PA and currently resides in Indiana, PA. He earned a B.S.in Health Education from Slippery Rock State College in 1973. While teaching for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and working for Parkway Industries as Floor Supervisor Joe earned his M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Special Education with a specialization in Severe Disabilities from the University of Pittsburgh. Joe was on faculty at the University of Pittsburgh for six years teaching in the Program in Severe Disabilities and Coordinating the Western PA Technical Assistance Center for Supported Employment as well as a federally funded School to Work Transition Grant. In 1992 Dr. Domaracki joined the faculty in the Communication Disorders, Special Education and Disability Services Department at Indiana University of PA. While at IUP Joe served as Department Chair for 11 years and as Interim Associate Dean of Teacher Education for three years. Joe became involved with PAC-TE because he believes in PAC-TE’s commitment to improving the quality of teacher education in PA and the great opportunity PAC-TE provides its membership to network with other teacher educators across the state. In his spare time Joe enjoys traveling, working crossword puzzles, watching sports, and playing disc golf.
Executive Director
Joel Geary
Joel has held several positions in basic education--as a teacher and instructional coach, and union president. He also served PDE for several years, first as the state curriculum consultant in Language Arts, and later as a liaison to educator preparation providers. That's where he discovered the importance of PAC-TE and its members. Meeting with teacher educators from around the state motivated him to leave PDE to work as the Certification Officer and Projects Manager at Penn State Harrisburg. He retired in 2020. His degrees are from Clarion University and Millersville University, and he also studied institutional research at Penn State World Campus. He enjoys camping, playing with his grandkids, traveling, and working on his family ancestry. He hopes to write some books, but is currently excited to serve you as the PAC-TE Executive Director.
At-Large Directors
Dr. Sally Winterton
Position: At-Large Board Member
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Originally from Long Island, New York Sally has resided in Chester County, PA since 1968. She has served as Coordinator of Field Experiences in the Department of Elementary Education, a university supervisor, and as the Interim Director of the Teacher Education Center at West Chester University. Prior to joining WCU she taught elementary school and served as an assistant middle school principal, an elementary school principal, and a director of personnel in Pennsylvania public school districts. Her undergraduate degree is from Immaculata University, PA; her Masters of Education is from West Chester University; her Doctorate is from the University of Pennsylvania. Sally holds the following Pennsylvania certification: History, Comprehensive Social Studies, History and Government, Elementary, Elementary Principal, and Superintendent. Her research interests are in student teaching supervision and technology. Sally is a member of PAC-TE because of the collegiality of the members and the information shared at the the Teacher Education Assembly and Spring Conference. The PACTE publications keep her informed on state and national issues related to teacher education. Her avocation is horseback riding. When not teaching, travelling or reading, her favorite place to be is riding.
Dr. Rachael Stevens
Director (through May 31, 2025)
Position: At-Large Board Member
Dr. Rachael Stevens serves as Faculty for the School of Education at Marywood University. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg Kentucky. Rachael holds an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina. She holds multiple teaching certificates and has taught in a variety of k-12 settings for a combination of almost 20 in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Her undergraduate degree is from Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg Pennsylvania.
At Marywood University, Rachael co-chairs the curriculum committee for the school of education, is a co-moderator for Kappa Delta Phi-Education Honor Society and MUSE-Marywood University Student Educators, just to name a few. In addition to serving on the board of directors for PAC-TE, she is also a member of ATE and a lifetime member of the FCCLA Alumni & Associates.
Dr. Stephanie Gardner
Director (through May 31, 2025)
Position: At-Large Board Member
Dr. Stephanie Gardner received her B.S. in Special Education from Penn State and taught in NY & PA for 5 years as an elementary learning support and middle school life skills teacher. She earned her M. Ed. in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg University followed by a Ph.D. in Special Education from Penn State. Currently, Stephanie is an Associate Professor of Education at Commonwealth University’s Bloomsburg University campus in the Special Education Program. She is also a certified QPR instructor suicide prevention training through the McDowell Institute at Bloomsburg, a McDowell Institute Faculty Fellow, and serves as undergraduate program coordinator for the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness for PK-12 Students PDE Endorsement at Commonwealth. Stephanie has found great value in not only being a member of PAC-TE since 2014 but becoming more involved in the organization through various committees such as the Government Relations Committee, serving on/chairing annual conference planning committees, participating in Teacher Education Day in Harrisburg, and currently serving a second term on the board as an At-Large Representative. She was also honored to be selected as PAC-TE’s Teacher Educator of the Year in 2021. Stephanie strongly sees PAC-TE as a driving voice in the field of education in our state and is grateful to serve alongside of leading advocates in the field to create ripples of positive impact for our teacher education programs, teacher candidates, and ultimately the PK12 children that we all serve. Stephanie’s passions (outside of teacher prep) include spending time with her husband, two sweet and sassy daughters, and Great Dane pup while camping, having fun “on the water” at the local river/lakes, and raising backyard chickens and bees.
Dr. Amy Rogers
Position: At-Large Board Member
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Amy Rogers, Ph.D., is the Director of Teacher Education and an Associate Professor at Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA. Amy has over 25 years experience in education as a social studies teacher, literacy coach, and teacher educator. She holds degrees from Lycoming College, Bloomsburg University, and The Pennsylvania State University. Amy is active in the education profession with her work as a member of the Association of Teacher Educator (ATE) National Task member, past board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE), Chair, Certification Committee, a member of the PA Deans of Education Forum, and a program reviewer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. She is currently serving as the Co-Chair for Lycoming College’s Middle States Accreditation. Amy holds professional membership in the following organizations: Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE), International Reading Association (IRA), Kappa Delta Pi—National Honor Society for Education, National Council of Social Studies (NCSS), Pennsylvania Association of College and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE), Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), and the Public School Board Association (PSBA).
Directors Representing State Institutions (State-related/PASSHE)
Dr.Jonathan Chitiyo
Director (through May 31, 2025)
Position: Directors Representing State Institutions
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Jonathan Chitiyo serves as an Assistant Professor of Special Education and Director of First Year Experiences at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford. He earned his BA in Environmental Studies and English from Africa University in Zimbabwe, MS. Ed in Curriculum and Instruction and PhD in Special Education both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He currently serves as the Associate Editor for PA-Teacher Educator and Editor of the International Journal of Whole Schooling. His research interests include special education program planning and development, implementation of different school-based practices (i.e., school-wide positive behavior support), inclusion, and the development of special education in developing countries. He has published his research in several journals and presented at national and international conferences including PAC-TE.
Dr. Debbie Grubb
Debbie Grubb has been an employee of California University of Pennsylvania for 18 years. Her current responsibilities include the Director of Professional Education Services which duties encompass those of Director of Student Teaching and Field Experiences for all teacher education candidates. Additional duties include Data reporting for PDE, CAEP, Title II, IPEDS and synthesis of PECT and Praxis data. She is an active participant in the ongoing redesign of the education unit at Cal U. Debbie participates in team collaboration of creating and implementing the required CAEP measures on Dispositions, Clinical Practice, Action Research, Lesson Planning, and Portfolio Assessment Tools. In addition to her work duties, Mrs. Grubb is finishing studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Doctorate of Education DEd in Administration and Leadership Studies. Debbie enjoys spending free time with her husband outside in the fresh air either cycling, golfing or just relaxing by the waterside.
Dr. James Preston
Position: Directors Representing State Institutions)
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Jim Preston is an Associate Professor at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU). In his 14th year at Slippery Rock University his current role is as Assistant to the Dean in the College of Education. In that role he acts as the Director of Student Teaching and Accreditation Coordinator for the college. In addition, he is the Dean’s designee on a number of tasks and projects throughout the academic year. Jim earned his Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He spent 13 years as a secondary mathematics teacher in Western Pennsylvania prior to his tenure at SRU. Jim is a board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (PAMTE) and is president of the PASSHE Field Director’s group. As a member of PAC-TE and ATE, he has been an active attendee and contributor of both organizations’ conferences. In addition, Jim is the current co-editor of the Pennsylvania Teacher Educator. Recently, Jim was the conference chairperson of the National Student Teaching and Supervision Conference.
Directors Representing Private Institutions
Dr. Beverly Bryde
Beverly Bryde is a native of Brick, NJ and now resides in Wayne, PA. She earned her B.S. in Secondary Education from Villanova University, her M.A. in Education Administration from Villanova University and her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Widener University. Beverly has been working in Higher Education for over 25 years. She currently serves as the Founding Dean for the School of Education and Chief Credentialing Officer at Cabrini University after serving on the faculty for 12 years (1990-95, 2006-13) and holding the department chair position for 3 years. Previously, she served as a full-time, tenured faculty member at California Lutheran University in Southern California for 8 years (1998-2006). Her professional interests and research are rooted in mission development, educational technology, classroom management, judicious coaching, and advocating for social justice in teacher education.Dr. Sara Rutledge
Dr. Sara Rutledge serves as Professor of Education and Department Chairperson for Education and American Sign Language/English Interpreting at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson, PA. She earned her B.A. in Sociology with teacher certification in Elementary Education (K-6) from Seton Hill University and her M.A. in Sociology and D.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her professional experience includes preschool through 7th grade teaching experience. In addition to PAC-TE, Dr. Rutledge serves on the Technology and Teacher Education Committee for the Association of Teacher Educators. At Mount Aloysius College, she serves as the Chair of Faculty Governance Council, Chair of Faculty Assembly, PDE Certification Officer and Title II Coordinator. She is also the Owner of Rutledge Educational Consulting, LLC and is the Founder and Director of the National Pre-Service Teacher Resource Center. At home, she loves spending time with her husband, two adult children, extended family and friends. She especially enjoys attending her children’s college soccer and lacrosse games. Her favorite hobbies include skiing, hiking, competing in 5K races and triathlons, reading, traveling, photography, cooking, entertaining, and volunteering in her community for the Indiana County Back to School Bash.
Dr. Nancy Morris
Nancy Morris is an assistant professor in Gannon University's School of Education. She serves the Board as a representative for Private Institutions. Her Ph.D. is in Organization Learning and Leadership. Before coming to Gannon in 2012 Nancy taught in the K-12 schools as both a general and a special education teacher for ten years. She lives in Erie with her husband and son. She loves going to her son’s sporting events, kayaking and hiking as a family, and is an avid Cleveland sports fan!