Strategic Plan

GOAL: ADVOCACY

With diverse partners, advocate for the central importance of teacher education in Washington state and transformative teacher education policy and practice

Indicators that goal has been met

1. An annual advocacy strategy has been implemented and benchmarks have been achieved
2. The content/organization and assessment of programs’ impact on candidates and professional education has been clarified, and that information has been shared with key policy makers to help ensure that their decisions are congruent with WACTE’s goals.
3. WACTE is acknowledged as a positive and inclusive force in the legislature and other policy domains, and our work has positively impacted education in Washington state.
4. Elected officials, key partners, programs, and WACTE will work toward the shared goal of dismantling barriers for diversifying/expanding the teacher workforce.

Action Items

1. Create and maintain an annual calendar of advocacy activities
2. Create and maintain a WACTE one-pager with information and common goals that further the WACTE mission; at least one goal will focus on dismantling barriersfor diversifying/expanding the teacher workforce.
3. Provide annual professional development and legislative engagement activitiesfor WACTE members, including access to the tracking of key legislation and opportunities to tell our stories

GOAL: COLLABORATION

Collaborate for the mutual benefit of the entire teacher education ecosystem

Indicators that goal has been met

1. Opportunities are widely available for learning across programs to increase mutual understanding and collaboration among member organizations.
2. Opportunities are in place for learning across programs (including efforts and issues related to equity and inclusion) to allow program advising of candidates for “best fit” program.
3. WACTE programs that partner with the same districts are communicating and supporting one another to support both our candidates’ and their districts’ needs.
4. “Common experiences” and “problems of practice” are shared at every meeting.

Action Items

1. Design a common template to help us better understand each program and the different “roles” and core responsibilities in each program.
2. Develop a system whereby individuals and/programs can propose “problems of practice” to bring to meetings.
3. Develop and implement a system to support increased collaboration among WACTE members and partners (e.g., school districts, communities, state agencies) within regions
4. Include an agenda item in each WACTE membership meeting geared toward sharing research, stories, and/or effective action(s) around issues of equity, diversity and inclusion.

GOAL: LEARNING COMMUNITY

Foster an authentic, supportive community for the purpose of sharing resources and improving professional practice. Create spaces for diverse voices within our community

Indicators that goal has been met

1. WACTE is a learning community for our members. Meetings include meaningful discussion of issues presented by partner groups within our organization.
2. A research driven agenda identifying supports needed by teacher candidates including challenges and opportunities around equity, diversity and inclusion has been developed and disseminated statewide.
3. WACTE has provided a resource directory that is up to date and easy to access about what various teacher preparation programs offer and whom they serve.

Action Items

1. Maintain a system for key partners (e.g., PESB, ERDC) to engage in meaningful discussions with appropriate role-alike groups
2. Develop at least one agenda item per meeting for WACTE programs to lead professional learning on successful strategies for current issues or questions in teacher education.