Organizations for Teacher Educators

Professional associations provide members with opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from each other through annual meetings, newsletters, Web sites, monographs, and peer-reviewed journals. They articulate standards for professional practice; acknowledge excellence through awards, grants, and fellowships; and represent the interests of members through political activities and collaboration with other organizations. Teacher educators reflect the variety and complexity of the field of education as a whole, participating in a wide array of local, state, regional, national, and international organizations and professional associations. They are influenced by, and participate in, research- and policy-oriented organizations, interdisciplinary associations, specialized disciplinary professional societies, labor unions, and honorary societies. This entry offers a quick review of the history of such organizations and their various agendas.