Austin Peay Eriksson College of Education

06/05/2026

Our people make the Eriksson College of Education what it is. 🎉

This week, three members of our team were honored at the APSU Staff Service and Excellence Awards Ceremony, and we want to scream from the rooftops about how great they are!

Governors Excellence Award, Academic Affairs: Amber Button

Amber serves as Coordinator of Academics - Teacher Residencies — a role that puts her at the intersection of students, school districts, the TN Department of Education, and our campus community. She brings calm, clarity, and genuine care to her work, which directly shapes the success of future educators. From tracking requirements to conducting trainings to simply being the steady presence residents can count on, Amber leads with both competence and heart. We're grateful for her.

Service Awards:
🏆 Kevin Fee — 5 years
🏆 Ana Ortega — 20 years

Thank you, Amber, Kevin, and Ana, for everything you do.

05/29/2026

"I didn't always feel like I belonged in the role. I second-guessed myself sometimes and kind of was waiting for someone to tell me I had it figured out."

In our newest episode of the Govs Teach Unplugged podcast, Dr. Christi Maldonado gets real about the doubt that comes with stepping into school leadership.

Maldonado spent more than 20 years in Tennessee public schools, including 15 as an assistant principal. Now she helps prepare the next generation of administrators through Austin Peay's Aspiring Administrator Preparation Network (AAPN), a one-year, fully online master's program designed for working educators.

🟢 Spotify | https://bit.ly/3REQxld
🍎 Apple Podcasts | https://apple.co/3RD2oAi
🖤 iHeart Radio | https://ihr.fm/44HXiGY
🎵 Amazon Music | https://amzn.to/4dEf3vn

05/27/2026

Dr. Zack Barnes, associate professor of literacy, was tapped by Publishers Weekly to interview James Patterson about his $10 million pledge to create a new literacy institute at Vanderbilt University.

The institute will focus on improving students' reading in grades 4–8, an area in which Barnes is well-versed.

Check out the article 📰

author James Patterson has committed $10 million to create the Patterson Institute of Early Adolescent Literacy at Vanderbilt University.

05/25/2026

As summer begins and we pause to honor those who gave everything in service to our country, the Eriksson College of Education remembers the profound connection between sacrifice and the freedoms we cherish, including the freedom to learn, teach, and shape future generations.

To all who have served, and all who carry the memories of the fallen forward: thank you.

Wishing our APSU community a meaningful Memorial Day. ☀️🇺🇸

05/22/2026

Recently graduated and still figuring out your next move? You're not alone — and there's a path worth knowing about. Austin Peay State University's TESOL program was built for people exactly like you.

No education degree required. No teaching experience needed. Just your existing degree — from any major — and a desire to do meaningful work. Plus, there are Graduate Teaching Assistant positions available on campus where you will get hands-on experience teaching English language learners.

Here's the deal:
🎓 TESOL Certificate: 4 courses | ~6 months | fully online available
🎓 TESOL Master's Degree: 10 courses | complete in as little as 1 year
📅 Start any semester — Fall, Spring, or Summer
🌍 Graduates are now teaching in Tennessee, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, England, Egypt, and beyond

Our graduates don't just find jobs. They build careers that actually matter in classrooms and communities around the world.

Curious? Reach out to Dr. Ling Wang at [email protected] or call 931-221-1249.

Learn more at apsu.edu/education/programs-of-study/graduate

05/21/2026

Hey, Govs! Two exciting updates:

📸 May graduation photos are HERE, and they're FREE!
→ Go to apsuedu.canto.com/v/commencement
→ Search your full name to find your pics

🏆 Want to see who was honored at our College Awards & Celebration? Check out the full list of honorees here: https://www.apsu.edu/news/news-images/apsu-eriksson-college-awards-ceremony-achievements.php

Congrats to all our grads and award winners! 👏

05/16/2026

Our faculty and staff had a wonderful day visiting Westside Elementary School yesterday to read to students in kindergarten through 2nd grade. The students' energy was infectious, and their smiles brightened our whole week!

Events like these are a powerful reminder of our goal to foster a lifelong love of learning and support our local schools. A special thank you to the fantastic students and staff at Westside for their warm welcome. We can't wait to visit again!

05/13/2026

Lead Forward. Pay Less. Achieve More.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Our Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) degrees are now just $9,000 total.

Gain the leadership and technical skills you need to advance in K-12 schools, higher education, nonprofits, and beyond — at a price that makes sense.

Your future is waiting. Let's get you there.

👩‍💻 Explore all our graduate programs: apsu.edu/education/programs-of-study/graduate.php

📨 Have questions? Email us at [email protected]

05/11/2026

Huge congratulations to Tyler Rose for earning APSU's Harvill-Civitan Citizenship Award, one of Austin Peay State University's highest honors!

Tyler, a music education major who completed his student teaching this semester, has been an incredible force on campus. From serving as Student Government Association President to being crowned Homecoming King, he's made a lasting impact on our community.

Next stop: Indiana University Bloomington for his master's degree in higher education and student affairs administration.

Read more about Tyler and finance major Kade Tjaarda, who received the William McClure Drane Award: https://www.apsu.edu/news/tyler-rose-kade-tjaarda-drane-harvill-awards.php.

Let's celebrate these outstanding Govs!

05/08/2026

We gathered at our Spring Awards & Celebration Ceremony last week to honor and celebrate the community partners, faculty, staff, and students who make the Eriksson College of Education a great place to learn and grow. Browse through all the best ceremony snapshots here.

Congratulations to all our graduates and award winners!

📸 Photo Credit: Sean McCully