Our Purpose
The purpose of the Tennessee Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is to provide, through professional organization and cooperation, for continuous search for and promotion of ideas and practices which are most effective in the preparation of educators.
TACTE serves as the collective voice of those who prepare educators in the State of Tennessee to protect and promote high-quality educator preparation for the ultimate benefit of Tennessee’s PreK-12 students.
TACTE advocates for PreK-12 education and shall seek the enhancement of the quality of education in all areas.
Consonant with this purpose, the major objectives of this association are the same as the objectives of the American Association of College for Teacher Education as they apply in and for the state of Tennessee:
- To provide means for continuous exchange of information, experiences and judgments concerning all aspects of teacher education;
- To stimulate and facilitate research, experimentation, and evaluation of teacher education and related problems of learning and teaching;
- To serve as a clearinghouse for appropriate information and reports and to publicize findings of studies that have significance for teacher education;
- To cooperate and collaborate with professional and related organizations and agencies in activities designed to improve teacher education;
- To maintain effective communications and liaison between the national AACTE and the state unit;
- To provide a vehicle for teacher education institutions within Tennessee to develop and define positions on issues of importance to teacher education;
- To influence and recommend policies, programs, and activities which impact teacher education;
- To positively present and represent teacher education to its various publics in a way that ensures effective communication and conveyance of the appropriate images of teachers and teacher education;
- To establish, promote, and adhere to quality standards in teacher education.
Board Presidents
2024-2026: Sharen Cypress, Freed-Hardeman University
2022-2024: David Cihak, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
2020-2022: Tricia Hunsader, Tusculum University
2018-2020: Mark Hogan, Belmont University
2016-2018: Julie Baker, Tennessee Technological University
2014-2016: Carlette Hardin, Austin Peay State University
2012-2014: Kim Paulsen, Vanderbilt University
2010-2012: Susan Benner, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
2008-2010: Trevor Hutchins, Belmont University
2006-2008: Phil Roberson, King College/Austin Peay State University
2004-2006: Mary Lee Hall, The University of Tennessee Martin
2002-2004: John Sweeney, Freed-Hardeman University*
2001-2002: Sutton Flynt, Austin Peay State University
2000-2001: Ron Butterfield, Freed-Hardeman University
1999-2000: Richardo Renfro, Tennessee State University
1998-1999: Jim Stamper, Belmont University
1997-1998: Jane Williams, Middle Tennessee State University
1996-1997: Marcia Keith, Maryville College
1995-1996: Dan Baker, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
1994-1995: Peggy Hypes, Carson-Newman University
1993-1994: Nathan Essex, University of Memphis
1992-1993: Ron Butterfield, Freed-Hardeman University
1991-1992: Karen Adams, Tennessee Technological University
1990-1991: Willis Holley, Peabody College
1988-1990: Richard Wisneiski, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
1987-1988: Earline Kendall, Belmont College
1985-1987: Carl Stedman, Austin Peay State University
1984-1985: Ronald Midkiff, Carson-Newman University
1983-1984: George Drew, The University of Tennessee Martin
1982-1983: Robert Saunders, Memphis State University
1981-1982: Roy Stinnett, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
1980-1981: Jim Stamper, Carson-Newman University
1979-1980: E. Dale Doak, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
1978-1979: Barbara Burch, Memphis State University
1977-1978: George Keem, Middle Tennessee State University
1976-1977: Kenneth J. Frasure, The University of Tennessee Nashville
1975-1976: Emily Mathis, Christian Brothers College
1974-1975: Scott Honaker, East Tennessee State University
1973-1974: Jim McComas, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
*New policy of 2-year terms enacted
Member Institutions (Includes affiliates)
Aquinas College
Austin Peay State University
Belmont University
Bethel University
Bryan College
Carson-Newman University
Chattanooga State Community College
Christian Brothers University
Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools
Cleveland State Community College
Columbia State Community College
Cumberland University
East Tennessee State University
Fisk University
Freed-Hardeman University
Jackson State Community College
Johnson University
King University
Knox County Schools
Lane College
Lee University
LeMoyne-Owen College
Lincoln Memorial University
Lipscomb University
Maryville College
Memphis Teacher Residency
Middle Tennessee State University
Milligan University
Motlow State Community College
Nashville State Community College
Nashville Teacher Residency
Pellissippi State Community College
Project Inspire
Rhodes College
Roane State Community College
Rutherford County Schools
South College
Southern Adventist University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
The University of Memphis
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville
The University of Tennessee at Martin
The University of Tennessee Southern
Trevecca Nazarene University
Tusculum University
Union University
Vanderbilt University
Welch College
Western Governors University