WKU News & Events

March 19, 2002

Karen Adams Named To AACTE
Board Executive Committee

Bowling Green, Ky. - Dr. Karen Adams, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University, has been selected to the Executive Committee of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Board of Directors.

Dr. Adams was selected for the position by the AACTE board during the association's annual meeting in New York City.

"This appointment allows me to increase my knowledge of what's happening in teacher education nationally and to be more involved politically," Dr. Adams said. She said the University's long history of involvement with AACTE "puts Western in a prominent position. Even before I came here I knew a lot about the program through Western's involvement in AACTE."

At least two Western administrators have served as president of AACTE while others have served on the group's board.

AACTE is a national, voluntary association of colleges and universities with undergraduate or graduate programs to prepare professional educators. AACTE supports programs in data gathering, equity, leadership development, networking, policy analysis, professional issues and scholarships.

"This is the primary professional association for leaders in colleges and universities of teacher education," Dr. Adams said. "It allows for a lot of collaboration with colleagues at similar institutions."

Two issues receiving attention from AACTE include the preparation of special education teachers in light of a national shortage of special education teachers and the preparation of teachers of reading for early grades. Dr. Adams chairs the group's Task Force on Reading.

The 760 AACTE member institutions graduate approximately 90 percent of the nation's new teachers and other educators each year. Its headquarters office is in Washington, D.C.

For more information, contact Dr. Karen Adams at (270) 745-4664. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.