Doing Professional Development During Trauma Times: Working Through Tensions in Equity-Focused Professional Development With Mentor Teachers

• In Event: What We Learned About Teacher Education Through a Pandemic

Abstract

Professional development for mentor teachers (MTs) is key to realizing equity in schools. As such, we sought to design and pilot equity-focused professional development for MTs using a transformative coaching model (Aguilar, 2020). We present analysis of experiences working through tensions when schools re-opened for fully in-person learning in fall 2022. Data sources included artifacts; transcripts of audio recordings; and planning, debrief, and field notes. Our main findings reinforced the complicated nature of engaging in community-based approaches amid crises. Additionally, we offer insights for critical teacher educators and stakeholders committed to equity work in teacher education.

Authors

• Jeannette Alarcon, University of Houston
  Presenting Author

• Azizah Curry Iluore, University of Houston
  Presenting Author

• Laura Shelton
  Presenting Author