Dr. Edward L.Hill, Fort Valley State University's dean for the College of Education, was recently selected as a fellow for the new "Deans for Impact" Ed Academy. As part of the inaugural cohort for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based program, Hill will join fellow educational leaders from across the country in August 2016 to learn new strategies and to create a network of change-agents tasked with supporting each other and leading a national transformation within their respective educator-prep programs.

Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, FVSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, praised Hill's participation in the academy as an exceptional opportunity for Hill andthe university. "I am very proud of Dean Hill and I congratulate him for his selection to the Fellow in Deans for Impact's Ed Prep Impact Academy," Stuart said. "I have no doubt the things Dean Hill learns through this program will help him hone and develop leadership skills that will allow the College of Education at Fort Valley State University to reach new heights under his guidance." Hill was equally excited about his selection, adding he was looking forward to gaining new skills and experiences to elevate Fort Valley State. "I'm thrilled with the opportunity this training academy will provide for helping our institution to enhance our educator preparation strategies," Hill said. "We are always excited to seek out new ways of elevating the teaching profession and infusing our students with best practices from across the country."

The academy will be held from August 1- 4 at the University of North Carolina Charlotte Center City. According to the organization's website, some key principles of the training will include: A commitment to collecting, sharing and using data to drive change within programs and across the field of educator preparation.  A commitment to using common metrics and assessments that align the activities of their programs with demonstrable impact on student achievement and other common outcomes measures.  A commitment to using tools of research to identify the features of educator-preparation programs that improve student learning.  A commitment to elevating expectations of educator-preparation accountability and making program outcomes transparent.