NATCHITOCHES – Dr. Kimberly McAlister, dean of the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development at Northwestern State University has been elected to serve as the secretary/treasurer of the Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities (TECSCU).
TECSCU is a national group affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education serving as a national voice on matters of importance to educator preparation programs at comprehensive public colleges and universities. She will take office during the group’s Winter virtual meeting in February.
“I am honored to represent Northwestern State as TECSCU’s next secretary/treasurer,” said McAlister. “This national group of deans and teacher education leaders are focused on advancing access to and the quality of public educator preparation. What an opportunity this is to work with colleagues from around the country, like-minded in pursuing excellence in teaching while elevating the teaching profession”
McAlister has been dean since 2018. She began her educational career as a high school mathematics teacher before taking on teacher leadership roles. To continue nurturing her love of teaching and mathematics, she moved to teacher preparation in 1998.
As dean, she has engaged with others regarding leadership development. Recently completing a 3 -year term as president elect/president of the Louisiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, McAlister worked with colleagues to build partnerships and elevate the profession among teacher preparation programs, state departments of education and private providers within Louisiana. A colleague introduced her to TECSCU in 2018 and McAlister said she has found a larger group of colleagues to share and develop the profession she loves.
