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 education of teachers.  

TACTE serves as the voice for the higher education component of teacher education in the state of Tennessee, representing those who seek quality in teacher education and providing a vehicle for all teacher education institutions in the state to work together for the improvement of teacher education.  

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.

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 Tech 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:  

2004-2006:  Mary Lee Hall, The University of Tennessee Martin

2002-2004:  John Sweeney, Freed-Hardeman University

2000-2002:  Ron Butterfield, Freed-Hardeman University

1998-2000:

1996-1998:

1994-1995:  Peggy Hypes, Carson-Newman University 

1991-1992:  Ron Butterfield, Freed-Hardeman University