ARLINGTON, Virginia —Faculty and staff from Mount Union’s School of Education presented “Success Stories from a Small Provider” at the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) annual conference, known as CAEPCon, on Thursday, September 18, marking the third time in four years that the School of Education has been invited to share its accreditation and continuous improvement practices.

CAEPCon is a two-day conference designed to immerse Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) in the CAEP accreditation process and provide opportunities to share practices and strategies with colleagues across the United States. This year’s invitation reflects the School of Education’s ongoing work in accreditation, assessment, and continuous improvement.

“We were deeply honored when Dr. Malina Monaco reached out to invite us to present again this year,” said Dr. Melissa Askren Edgehouse, professor and director of the School of Education. “We’ve worked diligently to strengthen our programs, so it’s such a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to share some of our strategies and insights with colleagues across the country.”

(l-r) Bigham, Lambright, Reash, Askren Edgehouse and Coblentz

The School of Education previously presented at CAEPCon in 2023 with “Co-Constructed Partnerships at a Small Provider” and in 2025 with “A Complete Guide to Planning the Perfect Wedding Ceremony: AKA, Planning a Flawless CAEP Visit.” This year’s presentation, “Success Stories from a Small Provider,” drew a full audience for presenters Askren Edgehouse, Linda Bigham, director of assessment and licensure, Dr. Caitlin Reash, assistant professor of education, Dr. Chanda Coblentz, associate professor of education and Dr. Nicci Lambright, assistant professor of education.

Their presentation follows a significant recognition for the School of Education. In 2025, the School earned the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, an honor presented to EPPs that demonstrate documented exceptional commitment to excellence and continuous growth and earn accreditation with no recommended areas for improvement identified. 

Following this recognition, CAEP featured the School of Education’s work through CAEP Voices, a project that showcases the experiences of educator preparation professionals leading accreditation and continuous improvement efforts. According to CAEP, the CAEP Voices project captures “what this looks like – and what it means” from the perspective of the professionals leading the work, including deans and assessment coordinators, and it explores how EPPs have implemented the CAEP Standards within their programs. 

For the School of Education, the opportunity to present at CAEPCon provides a national platform to share their experiences and contribute to the broader conversation about accreditation and the preparation of future educators.

“Highlighting how our School of Education collaborates with one another, our partners, and most importantly, our candidates/alumni was a wonderful opportunity,” said Reash. “We were able to share about the incredible number of Rookie and Teacher of the Year recognitions that our alumni have earned, and it demonstrated the meaningful work and immense impact that our alumni have on their students.”

Learn more about Mount Union’s established and award-winning School of Education at mountunion.edu/school-of-education.