AACTE 2026

AACTE’s Annual Meeting remains the premier gathering of educator preparation and education professionals to advance the field and profession through research, professional practice, advocacy, and collaboration. The 2026 theme, CONNECT ED to Lead: Innovation and Impact,” reflects the collective strength of visionaries and innovators in creating meaningful impact on education and education preparation.

How to Talk About Academic Freedom

*This webinar will not be recorded, nor will AI tools/personal recordings be allowed. AACTE continues its Academic Freedom initiative with the webinar, How to Talk About Academic Freedom. Why does academic freedom matter, and what risks arise when policymakers restrict what educators can teach? This webinar will explore clear, effective ways to communicate the meaning and importance of academic freedom and why its preservation is essential to quality teaching and learning. Participants are invited to submit questions in advance, during the registration process. Moderator: Roderick S. Lucero, Ph.D. Executive Director for Educator Preparation Programs & Certification Professor of Practice Texas A&M University Lucero brings 43 years of experience across PK–12, higher education, and national leadership. He is executive director for Educator Preparation at Texas A&M University, advancing innovative teacher preparation practices, and serves as President and CEO of the National Center for Clinical Practice in Educator Preparation. Previously, he was vice president at AACTE, championing high standards and the central role of clinical practice. His academic journey began at the University of Denver with an undergraduate degree and teacher certification, followed by a master’s and principal licensure from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. from Colorado State University. These experiences shaped his commitment to PK–12–higher education partnerships. Throughout his career, Lucero has emphasized collaboration and purposeful dialogue to prepare educators for an evolving world. His sustained focus on clinical practice and partnerships reflects his belief that strong bridges between systems are essential for advancing the profession. Speakers: Terrance McNeil, Ph.D. Associate Professor Tennessee State University Holmes Scholar, Alumnus Terrance McNeil is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Educational Practice and Leadership at Tennessee State University, where he serves as Program Coordinator of the Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. program. With over 20 years of experience, he is also a Faculty Innovation Fellow at Stanford University and has collaborated extensively with the National Science Foundation to promote STEM opportunities for underrepresented groups. In addition to being Chair of the AACTE HBCU Educator Preparation Program and Holmes Scholar Coordinator at TSU, he is chair of the Public Education Committee for the National Bar Association's State and Local Government Section. Previously, he held the role of vice president of the Holmes Executive Council. In 2025, he was honored as the Higher Education Educator of the Year by the Our HBCUs Matter Foundation for his significant contributions to education and mentorship. Roland Sintos Coloma, Ph.D. Associate Dean, Faculty and Staff Affairs Interim Director, Office of Research and Collaborative Partnerships Professor, Teacher Education Wayne State University Roland Sintos Coloma, Ph.D., is a professor of Teacher Education and Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs in the College of Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. His research examines the cultural politics of difference in education with a focus on race, gender, and sexuality from historical, intersectional, and transnational frameworks. His publication record includes four books and over 40 articles and book chapters in prominent journals and academic presses. He has secured $3.7 million in external funding from federal, education, and philanthropic agencies supporting youth, curriculum, career-pipeline, and community development initiatives. Roland was recently elected vice president of Division B: Curriculum Studies (2026-29) in the American Educational Research Association. He previously served as president of the American Educational Studies Association and editor of the Educational Studies journal and was appointed by the Governor to the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission. Anne Tapp Jaksa, Ph.D. Professor Saginaw Valley State University AACTE Board Chair Anne Tapp Jaksa is a professor of Teacher Education at Saginaw Valley State University, teaching in both graduate and undergraduate programs in the College of Education. She currently serves as chair of the AACTE Board of Directors and is past chair of the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR) Executive Committee. She previously served as ACSR Midwest Region representative and as president of the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE). Tapp Jaksa is NASA JPL Education’s Educator in Residence and serves on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Board of Directors. She is also Director of Professional Development for the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula and codirector of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design. Her research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration. A frequent national and international presenter, she has published widely and remains active as a board member and volunteer in educational communities, and as Director of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design. Her research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration.

Academic Freedom and the Law: An Encore Presentation

This encore presentation of Academic Freedom and the Law is a part of the Academic Freedom Initiative, created in response to increasing constraints on educator preparation programs and designed to support members in navigating the legal and practical complexities of academic freedom in higher education. This webinar will explore key questions, including how the law protects academic freedom, whether DEI-related policies may be unlawfully discriminatory, and the extent to which universities may regulate speech related to race or gender. Participants may submit questions during registration or during the webinar. Moderator: Anne Tapp-Jaksa, Ph.D. Professor Saginaw Valley State University Past Chair, AACTE Board of Directors Anne Tapp Jaksa is a professor of Teacher Education at Saginaw Valley State University, teaching in both graduate and undergraduate programs in the College of Education. She currently serves as chair of the AACTE Board of Directors and is past chair of the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR) Executive Committee. She previously served as ACSR Midwest Region representative and as president of the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE). Tapp Jaksa is NASA JPL Education’s Educator in Residence and serves on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Board of Directors. She is also Director of Professional Development for the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula and codirector of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design. Her research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration. A frequent national and international presenter, she has published widely and remains active as a board member and volunteer in educational communities, and as Director of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design. Her research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration. Speakers: David D. Cole, J.D. Professor Georgetown University David Cole is the Honorable George J. Mitchell Professor of Law and Public Policy and the former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (2017–2024). One of the nation’s most influential voices on constitutional law and civil liberties, he brings deep expertise on free speech, equality, national security, and the Supreme Court. A frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books and legal affairs correspondent for The Nation, Cole has published widely in leading academic journals and major national media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. He is the author or editor of ten books, several award-winning, including Enemy Aliens and Less Safe, Less Free. Cole has argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Texas v. Johnson, Bostock v. Clayton County, and National Rifle Association v. Vullo. Renowned for his clarity and insight, he brings legal doctrine to life for diverse audiences. David M. Rabban, J.D. Professor The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law David Rabban is a nationally recognized scholar and authority on free speech, academic freedom, and higher education law. He served for many years as counsel to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and later as its general counsel from 1998 to 2006, followed by chair of the AAUP Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure from 2006 to 2012. He joined the University of Texas School of Law faculty in 1983. His teaching and scholarship focus on the constitutional foundations of free expression, the legal rights of faculty and institutions, and American legal history. He is the author of the award-winning Free Speech in Its Forgotten Years, 1870–1920, and numerous influential articles published in leading law journals, including Yale Law Journal and Stanford Law Review. Professor Rabban’s most recent book, Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right (2024), offers timely insight into current debates shaping higher education today. Caroline Laguerre-Brown, J.D. Principal and CEO Designing Equity, LLC Caroline Laguerre-Brown is the principal and CEO of Designing Equity, LLC, a consulting firm focused on higher education. She brings extensive legal and compliance expertise, particularly in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination policy. Caroline has led the development of institutional policies, educational programs, and risk management strategies for national associations, universities, and corporations. A skilled facilitator, she trains leaders and teams on sexual harassment prevention, unconscious bias, and anti-racism, and supports executives in crisis communication and reputational risk management. Laguerre-Brown previously served as vice provost for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement at George Washington University, overseeing key student-facing departments and leading major reforms to the university’s sexual harassment and diversity policies. Before that, she was Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer at Johns Hopkins University, where she launched essential training initiatives and diversity programs. She serves on multiple national boards and holds degrees from SUNY Binghamton and the University of Virginia School of Law.