UNG helping lead education groups

"We all have the same goals. We want people to go into education and show them this is a field worth pursuing, which is getting harder as a nation," Hardee said. "We have a hard task, but it's nice to be able to come together and be able to brainstorm how to tackle those challenges."

Hardee said institutions of higher education bring teacher candidates to the GACTE conference each fall to help prepare them for their futures as educators.

Joining Hardee on the GACTE leadership team from UNG are professors Dr. April Nelms and Dr. Chantel Renaud-Grant as communication co-chairs.

Raquel Johnson, field placement director for UNG's teacher candidates, began a one-year term as vice president of the Georgia Field Directors Association for the 2024-25 academic year.

Johnson said she enjoys that her state position allows her to share best practices that UNG is mobilizing to serve its teacher candidates. Ultimately, she said, the biggest secret to UNG's success is its students.

"Once these districts have some of our students as interns in their classrooms, they are eager to partner even more with us and let other districts know about how strong our future teachers are," Johnson said.

Dr. Yacine Kout, assistant professor of education, is the president-elect of the International Society for Educational Biography. He will lead the group's conference in October and become president at that point.

Kout has served on the organization's board for a few years and helped redesign its website. He is grateful for how the group has expanded his publication and research skills. It has also inspired his work with UNG students.

"In the classroom, it helped me better tailor my assignments," Kout said. "I ask students to write reflections about their education and what it means for them as future teachers."

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