CEHD Representatives Discuss Key Educational Issues with Congressional Leaders During Washington Week 2022 CEHD Representatives Discuss Key Educational Issues with Congressional Leaders During Washington Week 2022
Washington,
June 23, 2022
Photo caption (left to right): William Moore, Project NURTURE teacher resident alum; Mina Veazie, Project NURTURE program coordinator; DaShaunda Patterson, CEHD associate dean for faculty development and equity; Carla Tanguay, associate to the dean for clinical practice; and Keith Morrison, vice president of Van Scoyoc Associates, Georgia State’s government relations firm, pose for a photo during the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s 2022 Washington Week. story by Claire Miller Representatives from the College of Education & Human Development traveled to the nation’s capital to attend the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s (AACTE) 2022 Washington Week, an annual event highlighting key issues in education and advocating for quality teacher preparation. A delegation representing the college’s Project NURTURE teacher residency program included DaShaunda Patterson, associate dean for faculty development and equity; Carla Tanguay, associate to the dean for clinical practice; Mina Veazie, Project NURTURE program coordinator; William Moore, a Project NURTURE teacher resident and special education teacher in the Douglas County School System; and Davin Auble, director of data and stakeholder engagement for the Douglas County School System. During Washington Week, they met with education legislative assistants for several congressional leaders, including Rep. Rick Allen, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Rep. Buddy Carter, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. David Scott and Rep. Nikema Williams. Their discussions centered around federal funding to support educator preparation, school-based mental health and safety, and teacher recruitment and retention. “Who but those working in the field can best communicate the successes, needs and challenges of providing high-quality education?” Veazie said. “Representatives from Project NURTURE were uniquely able to convey experiences that resonated with our elected leaders and their staffs.” In addition, the CEHD delegation attended AACTE conference sessions on academic censorship, teacher shortages and educator diversity, and observed legislative debates in the U.S. House of Representatives. For Patterson, the trip serves as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with congressional representatives about the work needed at the national level to support teachers and students in Georgia. “Attending the AACTE Washington Week events is always energizing and reminds me that our voices and our work matters,” Patterson said. “We have to tell our stories and communicate the impact of our work every chance we get – our teachers, kids and families are counting on us. Even if we have to stand when we get to the table, we can still make our voices heard.” For more information about Washington Week, visit https://aacte.org/professional-development-events/washington-week. |
