Reimagining Urban Teacher Pathways: Engaging the University With Justice-Centered Praxis in Inner-City Schools and Communities

• In Event: 52.060 - The Promise of University Partnerships

Abstract

While new teachers are often ill-equipped to address and discuss issues of race and culture, especially with students of color (Milner & Laughter, 2014), teacher preparation programs can provide candidates with safe spaces to explore these concepts. This study presents findings from student enrollees in redesigned teacher education courses at a large Midwestern university. These courses have been fundamentally redesigned with urban content and context, and embed clinical field experiences in inner-city schools and communities. Results suggest that these courses can positively impact students’ intentions to teach in urban settings, and increase their self-efficacy to teach in those environments. Findings indicate that these experiences can help develop students’ understanding of culturally relevant teaching practices and clarify personal teaching philosophy.

Authors

• Brent Showalter, Illinois State University

• Valentina Gamboa-Turner, Illinois State University