Sessions from the 2026 Spring TACTE Conference

This is the welcome to the Spring 2026 conference and the Advocacy Update.  You can find more about our Advocacy efforts here.

Here is the update given by the TN Board of Education at the 2026 TACTE Spring Conference.

Tennessee is entering a new phase in educator licensure. Pending State Board of Education approval, educator candidates will soon be able to choose between ETS/Praxis and Pearson/NES assessments to meet licensure requirements, beginning Spring 2026. This marks a significant shift from the long-standing single-assessment model and introduces new considerations for educator preparation programs (EPPs) statewide.

This general session, facilitated by TN-CEEDAR, will unpack the implications of this policy change and support EPP faculty and leadership for this transition. Presenters will provide a side-by-side overview of approved assessment options, including cost, format, length, delivery method, content focus, score reporting timelines, retake policies, and available candidate supports. The session will also explore how programs can guide candidates in making informed decisions while maintaining program coherence and supporting equitable outcomes.

Representatives from both ETS and Pearson will be invited to highlight distinguishing features of their assessments and respond to questions relevant to Tennessee EPPs. Participants will leave with practical tools, comparison resources, and implementation considerations.

This session is designed for all Tennessee EPP stakeholders and offers a timely opportunity to prepare for a major transition in the state’s licensure landscape.

Learn how ETS is expanding flexible options to support candidates in successfully passing their licensure assessments. This session highlights Praxis Steps, which allows candidates to test one section at a time—or, if taking the full test, to retake only the Step they did not pass—while also giving EPPs greater flexibility in determining when candidates demonstrate passing performance. We’ll also explore Praxis Bridge, an alternate option offering targeted learning modules for near‑passing candidates. Together, these innovations reduce barriers, personalize the testing experience, and provide EPPs with granular data to strengthen instruction and candidate support while maintaining rigorous assessment standards.

Teacher preparation programs face increasing challenges in equipping educators with the skills needed to succeed in diverse and dynamic classrooms. Mursion simulations, an innovative virtual reality platform, offer a transformative solution by providing immersive, interactive environments where educators can practice and refine their teaching strategies. This proposal outlines how virtual reality simulations can be integrated into teacher education preparation programs to benefit both traditional learners and non-traditional learners, highlighting expected outcomes and long-term impacts.

Online teaching encompasses far more than simply assigning work through a learning management system (LMS). Educators must implement strategies that enhance course design, improve online learning, and motivate learners. This professional development will provide in-depth, research-based pedagogical knowledge regarding online teaching within higher education settings.

This session will explore how technology and artificial intelligence can gracefully enhance instruction while keeping educators at the center of learning. Participants will examine practical, ethical, and innovative strategies that support engagement, differentiation, and instructional effectiveness across diverse learning environments.

Facilitated by Dr. Annie Insana and Ms. Lori Farley

Facilitated by Ms. Katie McGrath

Facilitated by Dr. Amelia Brown and Dr. Malina Monaco

Facilitated by Dr. Robyn Ridgley

Facilitated by Dr. Laura Barnett and Dr. Christi Maldonado

Facilitated by Dr. Cindy Chambers

Facilitated by Dr. Sandra Cooley-Nichols