#educadoresdelfuturo: Heritage-Language Education as Growing Grounds for Critically Conscious Multilingual Teachers of Color

• In Event: Centering Teachers of Color

Abstract

The U.S. fails to recruit and sustain multilingual teachers of color (MTOC). A majority of multilingual youth of color have seldom been taught by MTOC or experienced critically conscious and culturally sustaining curriculum. This study examines the use of a critical service learning project in a Spanish heritage language program, interrupting existing teaching model to emerge a critically conscious linguistically and culturally sustaining model with and for Latinx youth. Drawing on the ethnic studies framework of their heritage language classes, youth explored becoming critically conscious MTOC (CC-MTOC) with educational justice orientations. This study offers significant implications for Grow Your Own programs and teachers of multilingual youth of color who hope to grow future critical educators for social justice.

Authors

• Jenna Cushing-Leubner, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

• Jennifer Eik