ACE Summer Institute
Alternative Certification for Educators Summer Institute
Empowering the Next Generation of Educators
June 17, 2026 8:00-4:00 Broken Arrow Campus
The ACE Institute (Alternative Certification for Educators) is proud to host our first Summer Institute—a full day of professional development, collaboration, and inspiration for current and future educators across Oklahoma. We are a statewide initiative committed to supporting career-changers, STEM professionals, and paraprofessionals as they transition into the classroom through high-quality, affordable pathways to teacher certification.
Our mission is to grow and support passionate, highly qualified teachers—especially in high-need areas—by offering mentorship, microcredentialed coursework, and meaningful professional development. The ACE Summer Institute is one of the many ways we bring our mission to life.
What Is the Summer Institute All About?
This one-day event is designed to bring together ACE participants, mentors, and educators from across the state for hands-on learning, networking, and growth. Attendees will gain practical strategies for effective teaching, explore topics like classroom management, culturally responsive teaching, and technology integration, and learn how to thrive in both traditional and alternative certification pathways.
Expect high-energy breakout sessions, access to materials and resources, and opportunities to connect with peers who share your passion for making a difference in education. NSU faculty and guest presenters will offer insight into current research and tools that support effective instruction, particularly in high-need and rural schools.
Who Should Attend?
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ACE Institute Scholarship Recipients
- Alternative and Emergency Certified Teachers
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Career-Changers Entering Education
- Paraprofessionals Pursuing a Teaching Degree
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STEM Professionals Interested in Certification
- Mentor Teachers and School Leaders Supporting ACE Participants
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Anyone passionate about strengthening Oklahoma's teacher pipeline
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Anyone interested in becoming a teacher
Why This Matters
Oklahoma needs great teachers—and we believe that with the right support, every aspiring educator can become a transformative force in the classroom. The Summer Institute is more than just professional development. It's a celebration of progress, potential, and the power of community.
By bringing together educators from different backgrounds and experiences, we’re building a stronger, more resilient teacher workforce for the students who need it most.
Ready to join us?
Make plans to attend the 2026 ACE Summer Institute and take the next step in your
journey as an educator. You’ll leave equipped, encouraged, and ready to make a lasting
impact.
Speakers
Jere "MsChang" Chang
Chang invites audiences into her classroom, family vacations with her wife and two young sons, even her lunch box to look deeply into something familiar with innovation and curiosity. Unlike most social media stars, Chang is honest. She doesn’t cover up her teaching goofs, her aging face, or her misunderstood classroom décor but points them out with a great sense of reflexivity and humor. Her goal: to have audiences walk away feeling refreshed, safe, cared for and valued. From the moment she starts to talk, it’s time to get real.
From having difficult conversations with colleagues, parents, and students, coping with (teacher) test anxiety, or navigating bullying commentary from viewers online—she’s not afraid to address challenging issues yet remains focused on what makes people smile. Known as the “Lesbian Mr. Rodgers” she refers to her approach to equity and inclusion as “soft activism” because as her Grandma used to say, “You attract more bees with honey!"
Invited twice to the Whitehouse with 30 other influencers on LGBTQ+ issues, Ms. Chang is an international speaker who draws standing room only crowds. Awarded Distinguished University of Georgia Alumni, Chang promotes brands that support teachers such as back to school gift cards from Amazon, Microsoft products for digital learning, even Coca-Cola to caffeinate her school lunch.
With 10 years in gifted education and three Master’s degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), college administration, and applied linguistics, she speaks on a variety of topics focused on creativity and inclusion. Wherever Jere Chang is, so is a room full of laughter, a “Wheels on the Bus” dance party, and the feeling of sanctuary.
Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford
Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford is not your average math speaker. She is a Hall of Fame educator, VR trailblazer, and national voice for inclusive, opportunity-rich STEM learning. Her mission: to turn math into a movement. Camille has spent more than 25 years in the classroom, including over 15 years at the world-renowned Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta Georgia. She is known for transforming classrooms into joyful, high-performance spaces where learning feels alive. Her gift lies in turning math from something students fear into something they celebrate.
In 2025, Camille became one of only eight Black women ever inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She is also a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest honor for math educators in the nation. But her approach is as personal as it is powerful: diagnosed with dyscalculia as a teen, Camille teaches with a deep sense of empathy and innovation, showing students and educators alike that struggle can be the gateway to brilliance. She turned her early struggles into a lifelong mission to help every student feel capable and confident in math.
Her signature framework, Math Esteem, blends rigorous content with student identity, creative tech, and real-world connection. Camille brings numbers to life through music videos, AI-infused lessons, VR experiences, gamified fashion shows, and culturally rich instruction that meets learners where they are. She makes math relevant and revolutionary.
Camille’s students have won seven national MATHCOUNTS video championships and appeared in her branded campaigns with Pharrell, McDonald’s, and Old Navy. Her creative classroom strategies are not only student-approved—they’ve earned national attention for their innovation, engagement, and academic impact.
As the founder of DVCJ Holdings LLC, Camille leads educator coaching, tutoring, and camps designed to break barriers in STEM learning. Her work includes consulting and professional development that empowers teachers to blend heart with high expectations, rigor with relationship, and innovation with inclusion.
A frequent keynote speaker and media guest, Camille’s work has been featured on CBS Mornings with Gayle King, Yahoo News, Black Enterprise, AfroTech, FOX 5 Atlanta, Watch the Yard, and more than 30 other outlets. She has also been honored in the U.S. Congressional Record for her transformative contributions to education.
Whether she’s keynoting a national summit, designing culturally responsive curriculum, or helping a student fall in love with fractions, Dr. Camille Jones brings unmatched warmth, energy, and excellence to every stage.
Because for her, math is a love language—and a tool for liberation.