Beyond Belonging: The Impact of an Equity-Driven Aspiring Catholic Teacher and Leader Formation Program

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Abstract

This paper reports the results of an ethnographic study of the impact of an aspiring teacher and leader formation program for Catholic school middle and high school students designed to train students in equity and create a pipeline of equity-driven, Catholic future teachers and leaders. Data of the ethnographic study revealed participants gained strong commitments to equity and future leadership in Catholic schools and they felt a strong sense of belonging and empowerment by applying Catholic Social Teaching (CST) values of care, community, rights and responsibilities, and solidarity through action research. The program positively impacted the equity practices in the Catholic K-12 schools involved and holds promise to address equity integration and the teacher and leader shortage in Catholic schools.

Authors

• Donna Kiel, DePaul University

• Tina Curry, Chicago Public Schools

• Molly Cinnamon, DePaul University