This free two-day workshop is to assist community college faculty in preparing future teachers in science education. NASA Earth and space scientists and educators share authentic inquiry activities, data, and resources related to key topics from the national science standards. The NACCTEP pre-conference institute in 2010 will include a focus on NASA Earth science data and the theme of climate change. Participants receive a $300 stipend.

• Explore standards-based concepts using authentic inquiry.

• Discuss current science research with NASA scientists.

• Identify ways to address Earth and space science misconceptions.

• Explore collaboration plans with colleagues.

For additional information please click here.

Message From The Director

Dear NACCTEP Members,

Welcome back to another exciting and productive year. I would like thank each of you for your commitment to NACCTEP.  The current economic recession has impacted our colleges in many different ways. Some colleges have had budgets and resources drastically reduced. Others are seeing skyrocketing enrollments and are struggling to meet student demands.

As you have heard and read over the past several months, community colleges have taken a prominent role in the discussion of our country’s economic recovery. Community colleges continue to lead the nation in offering diverse, affordable, community-based programs that meet the needs of pre-service and current educators. Earlier this summer President Obama announced a $12 billion community-college initiative designed to boost graduation rates, improve facilities, and develop new technology. What does all of this mean to teacher education at our community colleges?

It means as an Association we must continue to work together and share information, best practices, and solutions. The time for community colleges to highlight their innovate programs is now, while the national spotlight is focused on community colleges as a solution to our nation’s economic recovery. Through articles, web blasts, the conference, etc. we need to share our “intellectual” capitol.

NACCTEP is dedicated to advocating for community college teacher education programs as a preferred choice for students. By publishing policy briefs and newsletters, exhibiting at national conferences, presenting our own national conference, and visiting lawmakers in Washington D.C., we hope to enhance the knowledge about and promote the viability of community college programs to national leaders. We invite you, as NACCTEP members, to advance your college and department as essential to the growing need for high quality teachers.

Please join us for NACCTEP’s Connecting Communities conference is Baltimore, Maryland, March 26-28, 2010. Explore innovative community college teacher education programs, enjoy nationally renowned keynotes, and network with teacher education colleagues from across the country. Participate in NACCTEP’s efforts to promote community college teacher education programs as a conference attendee and/or presenter. Conference proposals are due by October 15, 2009. Share your expertise and look to the future by experiencing new ideas. Registration is already open, online, at www.nacctep.org.

Ray A. Ostos

NACCTEP Executive Director