The Impact of College-to-Career Teacher Preparation Pathways to Engage and Prepare California’s Teacher Workforce

• In Event: Supporting Preservice Teachers of Color

Abstract

The California Teacher Pathway (CTP) seeks to address the minimal diversity of the teacher workforce by supporting underrepresented youth to earn teaching credentials. This comparative case study of three CTP programs draws upon focus groups, interviews, and surveys. Qualitative data were fully transcribed and coded for themes; survey data triangulated these results. Findings reveal the importance of structural supports, challenges with program ownership by colleges, and promises and challenges of clinical teacher preparation. Implications suggest that expenditures for full-time student support specialists would be well spent, show benefits to mixing cohorted and diversified courses, and highlight the role of clinical teaching. Recommendations emphasize that leadership within public higher education must provide vision and resources to sustain such programs.

Authors

• Barbara A. Henderson, San Francisco State University

• Darla M. Cooper, The RP Group

• Jazmyn Childress, n/a

• Ana Maria Gutierrez, San Francisco State University

• Carissa Ann Purnell, City of Salinas