Reframing Educational Possibility Through a Grow-Your-Own Bilingual/Bicultural Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Program

• In Event: Recruitment for and From Diverse Communities and Contexts

Abstract

Although there is a growing body of research on the promise of grow your own (GYO) programs as a strategy to increase teacher candidates’ cultural and linguistic diversity, little scholarship addresses the inception, implementation, and scaling up of grassroot initiatives. The purpose of this case study is to examine the grassroots foundations, implementation, and scaling up of a GYO bilingual/bicultural (BL/BC) paraprofessional-to-teacher program in progress within a context of emerging diversity. Two themes emerged (a) GYO program grassroots foundations embed non-traditional program initiators and processes, and (b) equity-conscious program design and high-impact practices pose opportunities and challenges. Lessons on envisioning, designing, and enacting this type of GYO program will be discussed.

Authors

• Diana Gonzales Worthen, University of Arkansas

• Eva I. Diaz, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

• Christine Smart, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

• Sandra Gaye Bowman, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

• Conra D. Gist, University of Houston