UA TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM NATIONAL AWARD FINALIST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The teacher education program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the College of Education and Health Professions (COEHP) has been selected as a finalist in the Association of Teacher Educators competition for the 2001 Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award. The University of Arkansas program is one of three finalists in this national competition. The winner of the competition will be announced at the association's annual meeting to be held in New Orleans, February 17-21, 2001.

"This is a distinct honor for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the College of Education and Health Professions, and the University of Arkansas," said Priscilla Griffith, professor and head of the department of curriculum and instruction. "The members of the committee that prepared the entry materials, the department faculty who work in the program, and the partnership schools are all to be congratulated on this outstanding achievement."

Sharon B. Hunt, COEHP interim dean, emphasized the significance of the teaching program’s achievement.

"I know how hard Dr. Griffith and her departmental faculty have worked to create a teacher education program that will prepare the scholar-practitioners of the twenty-first century," Hunt said. "It is especially gratifying and affirming to have their efforts recognized at the national level."

The award for the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education was established to honor outstanding teacher education programs that exemplify collaboration between local schools and institutes of higher education in program development and administration. ATE has designed the award to stimulate innovation and quality teacher preparation.

At the ATE annual meeting each finalist will make a 50-minute presentation on their program and will be provided a booth in the exhibit area. Members of the selection panel will attend each program presentation, visit the exhibit, and then complete the evaluation to select the winner.

The Association of Teacher Educators was founded in 1920 and is the only national, individual membership organization devoted solely to the improvement of teacher education for both school and campus-based teacher educators. ATE members represent over 650 colleges and universities, 500 major school systems, and the majority of the state departments of education. In addition, ATE has two voting seats on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and representation on the ERIC Clearinghouse on Teacher Education.