MACTE Elections 2026
Nominee Statements
Nominees for Board Member Private Institutions
With over 32 years of experience in public education now complemented by my role as an Assistant Professor at Lindenwood University, I am eager to serve on the MACTE Board and champion the preparation of Missouri's next generation of teachers. My career has given me a deep, firsthand understanding of what it truly means to be "day-one ready" — the skills, dispositions, and pedagogical grounding that allow a new teacher to walk into a classroom and make an immediate, meaningful impact on students. In my current role, I work directly with the programs that shape future early childhood and elementary educators, giving me both the practitioner's perspective from decades in public schools and the program-level lens needed to drive meaningful improvements in teacher preparation. Serving on this board would allow me to bring that perspective to the decisions and policies that shape educator preparation programs across Missouri, giving our K-12 students the very best teachers.
Alex J. Tripamer Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, College of Education and Human Services
Program Coordinator, Early Childhood and Elementary Education
COEHS Early College Access Coordinator
Lindenwood University
I would bring value to the MACTE Board of Directors from my work and experience at Park University, which has given me an understanding of the challenges and opportunities currently facing private institutions, while deepening my commitment to supporting teacher candidates and the educator preparation programs that prepare those candidates so well. I would also embrace the MACTE Board of Directors role in fostering collaboration with DESE and advancing a strong, diverse teacher workforce across Missouri. If selected to the MACTE Board of Directors, I would bring a team-oriented approach, a practical perspective, and a commitment to representing private institutions while supporting the continued growth and impact of all educator preparation programs across the state.
Brant Winn, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, College of Education and Health Professions
Director of Field Experiences/Associate Professor
Park University
I believe Missouri's students deserve educators who are genuinely prepared for today's classrooms. This belief is what drives my commitment to teacher preparation at every level, and I care deeply about getting it right. MACTE's mission of strengthening educator preparation through collaboration, advocacy, and excellence resonates with me because those are not just organizational values; they reflect how meaningful progress in this field actually happens - together, with intention, and with a high standard for what we owe the profession. Serving on the MACTE Board would allow me to bring that perspective into the room where those conversations happen, to advocate with clarity for what Missouri's educator preparation community needs, and to work alongside colleagues who share a commitment to getting this right for the candidates we prepare and the students they will serve. I genuinely want to be part of the conversations, decisions, and collective effort that move Missouri teacher preparation forward in ways that matter for candidates, for schools, and for the students who depend on both.
Dr. Cassie Huckstep-Spangler | Assistant Professor of Education
Director of Assessment for the College of Education
Coordinator of Remediation and Retention for the College of Education
Missouri Baptist University
Nominees for Board Member Public Institutions
As Dean of the College of Education at the University of Central Missouri, I am committed to helping shape the future of educator preparation in Missouri, and I see MACTE as a critical space for that work. Our state is at an inflection point—where innovation, collaboration, and a renewed commitment to the educator pipeline are essential—and I believe I can help move that work forward. My experience leading a complex college of education has reinforced my belief that strong partnerships, data‑informed decision‑making, and a shared vision across institutions are the keys to elevating our profession. I am eager to contribute to a board that is not only responsive to today’s challenges but also bold enough to imagine what teacher preparation can become for the next generation of Missouri’s schools.
Douglas Fiore, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education
University of Central Missouri
As an educator with service spanning over twenty years as a special education teacher, reading specialist, instructional specialist, district administrator, deputy commissioner, and currently assistant professor, I write this statement of intent to express my sincere interest in serving on the Missouri Association of Colleges For Teacher Education (MACTE) Board of Directors. As a MACTE Board member, I would bring keen decision-making acumen to support the continued growth of high-quality educator preparation, equity, and representation of the community in which we serve, camaraderie and collaboration, and expertise in policy review and development. I would like to serve in this capacity because my passion is positively affecting the lives of students and future educators. This role would give me the opportunity to use my experience and continue to serve in the field of education by advocating for quality teacher education across the state.
Tracy M. Hinds, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Lincolin University
Sarah Foster Walters, PhD, is an advocate for education and is seeking to serve on the MACTE Board of Directors as a representative of Public Institutions. She is currently the Education Career Services Coordinator and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri's College of Education and Human Development. Drawing on her experience as a public school English Language Arts teacher, Dr. Walters supports and prepares future educators in areas such as professional practice, ethics, classroom management, school law, cultural competence, and educational equity. Sarah serves on MACTE's advocacy committee and the Elevate Working Group, facilitated by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to promote the teaching profession. She has also been an active participant in AACTE Advocacy Week in Washington, D.C,. and MACTE's Day on the Hill in Jefferson City, Missouri. Sarah recently accepted the 2026 Advocacy Award from MACTE. Recognizing the urgent challenges facing education today, Sarah is committed to making the profession more sustainable in collaboration with teacher preparation institutions from across the state. Sarah is honored to advocate for education (and educators) and help build strong relationships at the local, state, and national levels—supporting the development of scholars and practitioners who can meet the real demands of the future.
Sarah Foster Walters, PhD
Education Career Services Coordinator
Adjunct Professor, College of Education and Human Development
University of Missouri - Columbia
Hello MACTE membership, I am the dean of the College of Education at the University of Missouri St. Louis and a Professor of Educator Preparation and Leadership. It truly is an honor to submit my application to serve on the MACTE Board of Directors. My professional work has centered on strengthening educator preparation through collaborative leadership, program innovation, and partnerships across institutions. Through my professional experiences at Cleveland State University and the University of Missouri St. Louis, I have worked closely with faculty, school partners, and community stakeholders to design and sustain high-quality teacher preparation pathways that are responsive to local and state needs. Across the various roles I held at these two public institutions of higher education, I led initiatives focused on program development, accreditation alignment, and strategic clinical partnerships, while supporting faculty in continuous improvement efforts grounded in data and research. This work has reinforced my commitment to ensuring that educator preparation programs are both rigorous and adaptable, particularly as we respond to ongoing challenges such as teacher shortages, shifting policies, and the need to serve our communities better. My grant-funded work as well as leadership development programs I completed over the years position me rather uniquely in how I approach leadership in service of the public good, which reinforces my unwavering support for community-based work, with education at its core. MACTE’s mission to advocate for high-quality educator preparation and to serve as a collaborative voice across Missouri’s institutions strongly aligns with my professional ethos and commitments. Today, more than ever, it is critically important to develop and sustain strong state-level coalitions designed to shape effective teacher preparation policy and practice. In this context, MACTE plays a crucial role in advancing evidence-based decision making and elevating the collective expertise of educator preparation faculty and staff across the state. If selected to serve, I would be particularly interested in contributing to several key areas of MACTE’s work. First, I would support efforts to strengthen cross-institutional collaboration by sharing promising practices and building networks among educator preparation programs. Second, I would advocate for community-vetted policies that are informed by both research and proven practice, ensuring that Missouri’s systems support sustainable and high-quality teacher pipelines. Third, I would work to expand innovative approaches to recruitment, preparation, and support by helping programs meet the needs of all learners and communities across the state. Finally, I would contribute to MACTE’s role as a connector between institutions and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, fostering transparent and productive partnerships. I believe my experience working across institutional contexts, combined with a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and advocacy, will help me to contribute meaningfully to MACTE’s ongoing efforts. I would be honored to support the organization’s mission and to work alongside colleagues across Missouri to strengthen educator preparation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Marius Boboc, Ed.D.
Dean
Professor of Educator Preparation and Leadership
College of Education
University of Missouri St. Louis
Nominees for Board Member HBCU
I am committed to advancing high-quality, equity-centered educator preparation across Missouri, and I believe my combined experience in research, teacher preparation, and statewide partnerships positions me to contribute meaningfully to the MACTE Board. My individual research focuses on culturally responsive and multi-tiered behavioral supports, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for students historically underserved in schools. Through this work, I have contributed to the development and evaluation of interventions that bridge research and practice, support teacher effectiveness, and promote more equitable learning environments. If elected, I will bring this research-to-practice lens to support innovation in educator preparation, strengthen alignment between policy and practice, and collaborate with colleagues to ensure programs are responsive to the evolving needs of schools and communities.
Aaron R. Campbell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Education