Cosechando maestr@s: Testimonios of Bilingual Teacher Educators at a Rising Institution

• In Event: Cultivando maestr@s bilingües: Testimonios on Highly Effective Bilingual Teacher Preparation Programs at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Abstract

Objective: To share the rationale for a newly created bilingual education that strives to become a national model for student and academic success embracing all students, particularly first-generation and underrepresented communities, while achieving graduation and retention rates above the national average.
Perspectives: As a new university, the bilingual education preparation program has found innovative ways to facilitate students’ advancement in the study of theories, research, and effective pedagogical approaches in the fields of Bilingual education while embracing first generation college students who come primarily from underrepresented communities. Incorporating social issues related to race, class, gender, and ability in the preparation courses for bilingual preservice teachers is of utmost importance.
Methods and Data sources: Personal testimonios from professors and students to provides a space to critically reflect on our own stories (Reyes & Rodriíguez, 2012). Facilitate students’ advancement in the study of theories, research, and effective pedagogical approaches in the fields of Bilingual and ESL education.
Results: Prepare teacher candidates and professional educators with marketable skills (bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, critical thinking, data analysis) that advocate and serve culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Scholarly significance: This work contributes to previous research by Darling-Hammond, French, and Garcia-Lopez (2002) and Darling-Hammond and Baratz-Snowden (2005) who argue that the role of teacher education should be to help teachers learn to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to teach for social justice while unpacking their own issues with marginalization in their own education.

Authors

• Katherine Espinoza, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

• Esther Victoria Garza, Texas A&M University - San Antonio

• Myriam Jimena Guerra, Texas A&M University - San Antonio