Creando Comunidad: Sustaining Dual Language Educators in Spanish-English Programs Through a Regional Bilingual Hub

• In Event: Impact of Teacher Professional Development on Instructional Quality

Abstract

This pilot study explores how a summer institute for teachers' professional development can enhance dual language educators' perception of linguistically and culturally sustaining pedagogies in their classrooms. The program is part of a state-funded regional bilingual hub created through the collaboration of a state IHE and three regional school districts in the Northeast. We used a concurrent mixed method design and purposeful sampling strategy for participant recruitment (n=28). Findings suggest a significant change in educators' perceptions of their linguistically and culturally sustaining pedagogies and practices to address the needs of multilingual learners through translanguaging, bridging, and trauma-invested practices. The qualitative data further strengthens our conclusion that bilingual and dual-language professional development programs should be grounded in asset-based principles.

Authors

• Marialuisa Di Stefano, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  Presenting Author

• Elenita Irizarry Ramos, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  Presenting Author