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July 25, 2013

ULM's Tiffany Jackson recognized by Generation Ready

Tiffany Jackson—the University of Louisiana at Monroe TEACH professional development coordinator—received the Generation Ready "Best Practices Excellence in Education Award" during the organization's Best Practices Conference in New Orleans.

"It's always nice to have your efforts recognized," said Jackson. "I think this recognition is most significant because it speaks to the effectiveness of those efforts."

The "Best Practices Excellence in Education Award" is given to individuals, schools, or systems who have partnered with the company or its sister company – Editure – to meet academic goals and have exemplified one of their five essential practices while demonstrating excellence in education.

The five "Best Practices" include, "providing a culture and climate conducive to learning, maximizing academic learning time, guaranteeing an essential curriculum, monitoring student achievement, and promoting professional practice."

Jackson said she cares deeply about the effect she has on hopeful instructors from her position in TEACH—an alternative teacher certification program uniquely designed to address the interests of bachelor level graduates who desire to obtain teacher certification.

"I get to relive my favorite moment every summer," she said.

"When we welcome a new cohort of teacher candidates into the program, it is humbling and invigorating to stand before individuals from such diverse educational and professional backgrounds that have answered the call to teach and have such positive expectations for our children and their future."

Jackson successfully provided an effective outreach for students seeking alternative certification by the implementation of Blended Consultancy, Professional Development tools, and virtual Professional Learning Communities or PLCs.

The implementation of virtual PLCs allows TEACH peer mentors to deliver research-based, data-driven information while providing coaching opportunities and a safe learning community where students can communicate, collaborate, and learn.

ULM was also honored during the conference as a model school for promoting the organization's "Best Practices."

Jackson said, "ULM was recognized and highlighted for our innovative and effective use of the platform and tools to promote professional practice and effective teaching in classrooms across the state through our partnerships."

According to Jackson, ULM is the first post-secondary partnership for the company that has made a significant investment in "promoting professional practice" as part of a teacher preparation program.

"This factor, in addition to the strong academic curriculum of the program, has contributed to the national recognition it has received and the success of its completers," said Jackson.

She also said, "Since my time as an undergraduate education major here at the university, I have always desired to do things to positively impact the lives of children. I thank God that he has granted me opportunities to fulfill that desire."

Jackson received a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Northeast Louisiana University in 1996 and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Western Governor's University in 2012.

She grew up in Lansing, Mich., and has worked at ULM for two-and-a-half years.

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