News Release

Cerritos College News Releases -- March 2007

Teacher TRAC Program Receives National Phi Theta Kappa Award

Cerritos College's Teacher TRAC program received a national award Friday night from Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society during the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) Conference March 2-4 in New Orleans.

The Phi Theta Kappa Teacher Preparation Program Award recognizes the college’s exemplary efforts to prepare students for careers in education. Teacher TRAC Director Sue Parsons, Gabriela Gonzales, a teacher education student and Cerritos College President Dr. Noelia Vela were on hand to accept the award.

“Phi Theta Kappa is proud to honor Cerritos Community College for their outstanding work in teacher preparation,” said Society Executive Director Rod Risley.

“Education can solve the social and economic ills facing the entire global community,” he continued. “A strong and effective education system relies on well-prepared and committed teachers. We salute Cerritos and all community colleges that are developing a new generation of educators.”

Teacher TRAC was selected for the award through a competitive application process. Parsons and Gonzales were invited to showcase the Teacher TRAC program during the NACCTEP Conference, and the program was also highlighted in a special publication distributed by Phi Theta Kappa to all community college presidents within the United States.

Phi Theta Kappa, with headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, is the largest honor society in American higher education, with 1,200 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, the Marshall Islands Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions.

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The Campus Connection Online, March 12, 2007