MURFREESBORO, Tenn — Neporcha Cone, dean of the College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through national nonprofit organization Deans for Impact, or DFI, joining a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to improving educator preparation.

DFI is a national nonprofit committed to ensuring that every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher and supports educator-preparation programs to bring the science of learning into teaching practice.

Cone is one of 18 leaders announced as part of the fellowship’s 10th cohort, according to a DFI news release. These fellows lead programs that serve 11 states and a wide range of geographic and institutional contexts from coast to coast. The programs represent public and private universities, community colleges, residencies, and teaching fellowships, while sharing a common goal: to strengthen pipelines of high-quality teachers who can honor and nurture the brilliance of all students.

“Being part of this year’s Deans for Impact cohort offers a powerful opportunity to engage in deep, reflective leadership alongside a community of peers who are committed to transforming educator preparation,” said Cone. “Through this fellowship, I’m gaining tools and perspectives that will help us build stronger, more coherent systems across our College of Education — particularly in how we use data, support faculty and ensure our teacher candidates are well-prepared for the realities of today’s classrooms.

“I see this experience directly informing our strategic direction and supporting meaningful, student-centered change across our EPP (Educator Preparation Program).”

DFI also partners with policymakers to ensure pathways into teaching are accessible, practice-based, and focused on instruction; and equips leaders with the tools to address today’s most pressing challenges in educator preparation. Guided by principles of learning science, DFI aims to help aspiring and early-career teachers create rigorous and inclusive classrooms where all children thrive.

Educator Preparation Programs today face complex challenges as they recruit and prepare teachers who are equipped to engage all pre-K-12 students in rigorous and affirming learning experiences. More than ever, the field needs leaders who can strengthen the educator workforce, the release states.

DFI aims to fill this need through its Impact Academy fellowship, which has empowered more than 150 dean-level leaders with skills, knowledge and strategies to prioritize instructional quality, navigate their teams through continuous change, and advocate for innovative and sustainable practices in educator preparation.

Fellows will participate in monthly learning sessions, receive one-on-one coaching from seasoned leaders, and engage in peer consultancies to address field-facing challenges in real-time. The goal is to hone their ability to engage faculty, staff, communities, and pre-K-12 partners in a shared vision for transformative change, grounded in a deep scientific understanding about how students learn.

“Educator-preparation leaders play a critical role in shaping how new teachers are set up for long-term success,” said Valerie Sakimura, executive director of DFI. “From prioritizing instructional improvement in their programs, to supporting their teams to meet the evolving needs of schools and communities, to advocating for innovative and sustainable practices, they carry an immense responsibility in shaping the future of teaching and learning.

“With this milestone cohort, we look forward to helping them grow as change agents while staying grounded in instructional quality and student impact.”

To learn more about this year’s Impact Academy cohort, visit: https://www.deansforimpact.org/impact-academy-cohort10.

— Karli Sutton (Karli.Sutton@mtsu.edu)