EdPrepLab World Café: Transforming Teacher Education—Creating Meaningful Partnerships and Communities in Educator Preparation

The EdPrepLab World Café: Transforming Teacher Education—Creating Meaningful Partnerships and Communities in Educator Preparation brought together educators, faculty members, researchers, and policymakers worldwide to explore how teacher education can build structures that support collaborative learning communities. Participants engaged with a keynote on the Science of Learning and Development by Linda Darling-Hammond and a panel of international experts on teacher preparation partnerships. Small group discussions highlighted key themes, such as the tension between teacher preparation and classroom realities, the need for strong, reciprocal partnerships that withstand leadership changes, and the importance of regular engagement, trust, and mentorship in partnerships. Conversations explored strategies for supporting pre- and in-service teachers through professional learning communities, ongoing development, and a focus on equity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning. The event promoted rich dialogue on how preparation programs can structure time and resources to strengthen collaborative learning spaces that support teacher preparation in contexts around the globe.

Moderator

• Xiu Cravens, Professor of the Practice, Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations; Program Director, International Education Policy and Management; Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development

Panelists

Session One:

• Nadine Petersen, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Vinicio Quinteros, Newark Public Schools, Newark, New Jersey, United States

Session Two:

• Larissa McLean Davies, University of Melbourne, Australia
• Wilisha Scaife, Community Activist, Muncie, Indiana, United States
• Eva Zygmunt, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States

Afternoon Session

Evening Session