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Faculty and staff from Eastern Kentucky University’s School of Education and Model Laboratory School represented the university at the 2026 National Association of School-University Partnerships (NASUP) conference in Crystal City, Virginia. Their presentations highlighted innovative strategies for teacher preparation, including leveraging design thinking, supporting future teachers, and revitalizing school-university collaborations to drive student achievement.

  • CEAHS Faculty Present at NASUP Conference in Washington, DC.
  • Night view of the Capitol Building Washington, DC
  • CEAHS Faculty Present at NASUP Conference in Washington, DC.
  • CEAHS Faculty Present at NASUP Conference in Washington, DC.

EKU Presentations at the National Association of School-University Partnerships

    Embedding teacher preparation in PK-12 settings: Revitalizing a university-lab school partnership

    • Presenters: Christopher Budano, Peter Edwards, Mary Beth Hammond, Jason Miller, & Ashlee Smethers
    • Description: EKU School of Education and Model Laboratory School faculty shared lessons they learned while embedding teacher preparation courses in a lab school, focusing on using the in-school setting to improve student engagement in teacher preparation courses.

    The Executive-in-Residence Role: Advancing Collaborative School-University Relationships

    • Presenter: Kevin Hub
    • Description: In this session, attendees considered how universities can utilize the skills of former school leaders to promote school-university collaboration.

    Leveraging School University Partnerships to Advance Equity and Achievement: Lessons from Model Laboratory School

      • Presenters: Christopher Budano, Kevin Hub, and Elizabeth Smith
      • Description: In this session, attendees examined contextual and achievement data to identify ways schools and universities can collaborate to improve both P-12 student learning and teacher preparation. 

      Kickstart Keys For Future Educators: A Model for Practical Preparation

      • Presenters: Brandy Blackburn, Christopher Budano, Amber Catron, and Mary Beth Hammond
      • Description: EKU’s Professional Education Services (PES) staff and Model Laboratory School (Model) faculty shared the origins of the Kickstart Keys program, examples of sessions, and advice for implementing similar programs based on student experiences and feedback. 

      Supporting Low-income future teachers during clinical experiences

      • Presenters: Elizabeth Smith, Brandy Blackburn, and Sonja Yow
      • Description: This session examined concrete steps teacher preparation programs can take to support low-income future teachers during their clinical experiences.

      Using Design Thinking to Support Asset-Based School-University Partnerships

      • Presenters: Elizabeth Smith & Helen Douglass (University of Tulsa) 
      • Description: Session attendees created an operational definition of success for school-university partnerships and applied principles of design-based thinking to identify assets and areas for growth in their partnership.