American College of Education to Confer More than 1,350 Master of Education Degrees at Winter Commencement

Indianapolis, IN - January 14, 2014 -- American College of Education, a leading provider of online graduate programs for educators, will hold its 2014 Winter Commencement on Saturday, February 1, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The college will confer more than 1,350 Master of Education degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Educational Technology at the semi-annual event.

Gifted education expert Dr. Sally Dobyns will deliver the commencement address on recognizing and nurturing talent. Dobyns currently works with teaching faculty at the University of Connecticut and develops programs to enhance teaching and learning through the university’s Institute for Teaching and Learning. A former K-12 teacher, Dobyns has served on the faculty at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette and as a consultant to more than 100 school districts in the United States and South America.

“With the theme, ‘Inspiring Achievement,’ commencement will celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, who are leaders in education with unlimited potential for motivating others to reach their goals,” said Dr. Shawntel Landry, interim president and provost for American College of Education. “We are honored to have Sally Dobyns deliver the commencement address. The time she spent as an educator in the K-12 environment has impacted every decision she has made as a trainer of teachers, and our graduates are sure to be inspired by the insights she will share.”

At the ceremony, American College of Education will also recognize Shawn Wigg of Jacksonville, Florida, as its Alumni Achievement Award recipient. Dubbing himself a lifelong learner, Wigg achieved a Master of Education in Educational Leadership at American College of Education after earning a Master of Business Administration at Western Governors University. Wigg joined Florida Virtual School in 2011 and currently serves as lead teacher in algebra.

Honored as the 2014 Florida Virtual School Teacher of the Year, Wigg has improved student achievement by developing and implementing a direct instruction model delivered via an online platform with the same level of interactivity as a successful brick and mortar classroom. Wigg also received the 2013 Florida Governor's Shine Award for demonstrating excellence in education.

The commencement ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m. and will be followed by a reception honoring the graduates. The day’s events include an alumni-only graduate reception as well as a doctoral program open house and an M.Ed. information session open to the public. To learn more, please visit http://www.ace.edu/commencement.

About American College of Education
The mission of American College of Education is to deliver affordable, online degree programs that provide evidence-based content and relevant experiences to improve educators' knowledge, skills and performance.

American College of Education is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA).

American College of Education’s Professional Education Programs (M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in ESL/Bilingual, M.Ed. in Educational Technology) which are designed to provide graduate students with the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to enhance their teaching and further their careers, were granted national accreditation by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of seven years, from May 3, 2013 to May 3, 2020. This accreditation certifies that the forenamed professional education programs have provided evidence that they rigorously adhere to TEAC’s quality principles.