Third time’s the charm: The third time proved the charm for WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions, 2007 co-winner of the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award presented annually by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. For the past three years, the college has been among the national finalists for the award named in honor of McAuliffe, the teacher who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff in January 1986. Western shares this year’s award with teacher education programs at the University of Northern Colorado and St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Living up to a legacy: “Our philosophy of teacher preparation at Western is in alignment with Christa McAuliffe’s often-quoted motto ‘I touch the future. I teach,’” said Michael Dougherty, dean of WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions. “Through our ongoing work with our many public school partners across Western North Carolina, we know we are living up to her legacy.”

Top of the class—again!: The McAuliffe award is the second national recognition for Western’s teacher education program in the past two years. The Association of Teacher Educators in February 2006 presented its Distinguished Program in Teacher Education award, given to teacher education programs that exhibit outstanding collaboration with local school systems, to WCU in recognition of the success of its School-University Teacher Education Partnership (SUTEP).

A vision for the future: “We are facing serious shortages across the state and nationally in the number of qualified teachers needed to help ensure that our children are prepared for careers in an increasingly global economy,” said Chancellor John W. Bardo. “I hope these awards will increase the number of teacher education majors at Western. I am convinced than no institution prepares teachers better than Western – period.”