Recognition of Significant Contributions to Quality Educator Preparation in Georgia
About the Award
The CINDI CHANCE Award recognizes outstanding contributions to teacher education through distinguished service to the teacher education community.
Selection Criteria
The Chance Award is given to a person or persons who have made exceptional contributions to GACTE or to a national or state organization involved in teacher education.
The award typically is presented to a single individual, although under exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the GACTE Executive Board, it may be awarded to multiple individuals; to an organization; or to a school, college, or department of education. It is preferred that the award be given to persons, organizations, or institutions that hold membership in GACTE, but membership is not required.
The Chance Award is presented annually, but the award committee may defer the award in any given year; however, it may not be deferred for more than a single year.
Submission Requirements
A letter of nomination must describe how the nominee/nominees fulfills/fulfill the selection criteria. A copy of the nominee’s/nominees’ curriculum vitae/curricula vitae must also be included with the nomination.
Previous Recipients of the Cindi Chance Award:
2012 — Inaugural Year, Cindi Chance, GACTE Executive Director, Emeritus Faculty, and
Dean Georgia Southern University
2013 — Carl Martray, Dean Emeritus, Tift College of Education, Mercer University
2014 — William B. Ware
2015 — Don Livingston, Professor and Chair, Department of Education, LaGrange College
2016 — Bob Michael, Dean and Professor, North Georgia College and Associate Vice-
Chancellor, University System of Georgia
2017— (to be awarded spring 2018)
2018 — Kelly Henson, Executive Secretary Georgia Professional Standards Commission
2019
2020
2021 — Dianne Hoff, Retired Dean West Georgia
2022 — Susan Hagood, Professor and Coordinator of Assessments, Thomas University
2023 — Penney McRoy, Director Educator Preparation Division, Georgia Professional
Standards Commission
Cindi Chance Award Winner 2022-2023: Dr. Susan Hagood
Susan Hagood, Ph.D., is Professor and Coordinator of Assessment and Accreditation at Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga. Dr. Hagood also serves as the director of initial teaching programs overseeing all undergraduate and Master of Arts in Teaching programs. Dr. Hagood was named the Thomas University Professor of the Year; has received the Physical Education Teacher of the Year by Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (GAHPERD); was recognized as outstanding professor at Indiana State University; and was named the Indiana State University student organization faculty advisor of the year. Dr. Hagood has served as Treasurer for the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (GACTE) and Parliamentarian and Treasurer for the Georgia Assessment Directors Association (GADA). Dr. Hagood is a Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) National Site Visitor and a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) Program Approval Site Visitor. Her work has appeared in publications such as GATEways to Teacher Education; Ubiquity: The Journal of Literature, Literacy, and the Arts; and Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, and she has made numerous presentations at state and national conferences throughout her career.