Sustained Professional Development: Scholar Circle Collaboration Toward Equity

• In Event: 32.042 - Literature as Liberation: Culturally Responsive Teaching in Constrained Contexts

Abstract

This study focuses on sustained professional development from a sociocultural perspective. The research is framed through the lens of culturally-focused pedagogy as professional development in a community of practice. This research takes place in a large metropolitan school district in collaboration with a small Historically Black University. The participants in this project consisted of 12 middle school teachers and 6 elementary school teachers. All of the schools are Title I and serve culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities. During the 15-month project, teachers met for 7 full days of professional development. Findings support the need for teachers to build a community of practice to unravel the nuances of work in culturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse schools and their communities.

Authors

• Jacquelyn Sue Sweeney, Bowie State University

• Eva Belle Garin, Bowie State University

• Patricia A. Clayborne, Montgomery County Public Schools