UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three members of the College of Education were recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE) in October for their support of education and PAC-TE.
David H. Monk, dean of the college, received the PAC-TE Friend of Education Award, which is given to individuals in recognition of their commitment to the highest-quality teacher-preparation programs. Recipients also demonstrate publicly and consistently the belief that every student has the opportunity and the right to learn with the most highly qualified and effective teachers possible.
“PAC-TE chose to honor Dr. Monk because of his embodiment and demonstration of the award’s criteria in his work in preparing high-quality teachers and educational leaders,” said Linda S. Cook, PAC-TE executive director. “He was also chosen because of his unwavering support of PAC-TE, especially of PAC-TE’s journal, the Pennsylvania Teacher Educator.
Cook noted that the Friend of Education Award is not necessarily bestowed annually. It is only conferred when a qualified candidate is identified. This prestigious honor has been awarded 13 times since the mid-1980s.
Jim Nolan and Suzanne Harpster were also honored for their support of the PAC-TE journal.
“Both Nolan and Harpster have supported the journal in various roles since its inception in 2002,” said Cook. “PAC-TE is very pleased to have honored each of them.”
Nolan, professor of education, served as the journal’s assistant editor and then as co-editor.
Harpster, now retired from her administrative support coordinator position in the college, served as the managing editor. She is currently completing the work to enable full issues of the journal to be archived and accessible on the website.
PAC-TE is a nonprofit association for all those in Pennsylvania who are engaged in the preparation and development of professional educators. The purpose of PAC-TE as the voice for professional educator preparation in Pennsylvania is to promote quality professional educator preparation programs and to provide opportunity for individual professional growth for all persons in Pennsylvania engaged in professional educator preparation. PAC-TE’s members consist of 351 representatives from 88 Pennsylvania institutions of higher education that prepare teachers, and education and educational leaders, and 106 individual members.