The University of Northern Iowa hosted key state education leaders on campus last Thursday, Sept. 25, to strengthen relationships and highlight the full scope of UNI’s educator preparation program. The visit also served as an opportunity to gather feedback to ensure UNI maximizes its impact across the state. 

Guests included Jane Dufoe, education policy advisor to Gov. Kim Reynolds; McKenzie Snow, director of the Iowa Department of Education, and Tina Wahlert, PK-12 learning division administrator for the Iowa Department of Education.

During their visit, the group met with President Mark Nook and Provost José Herrera, observed a class at Cedar Falls High School, connected with UNI and Cedar Falls High School faculty, staff and student teachers, and toured various updated and key spaces for teaching and learning in Schindler Education Center with UNI education administrators.

Guests saw early childhood education through an interactive STEM lesson at the Regents’ Center for Early Developmental Education, innovative curriculum and technology supports in the Teacher Education and Collaboration Hub (TEACH) Studio, two dynamic student teachers at Cedar Falls High School in their final stages of preparation, and UNI’s forward-looking work in graduate programs and micro-credentialing.

Key takeaways included the strength of UNI’s school partnerships, the impact of flexible and accessible pathways for future educators, and the university’s commitment to expanding preparation in critical shortage areas such as special education, English language learners, dyslexia, career technical authorization and school psychology.