Shaping Early Education: A University and District Collaboration for Future Elementary Teachers

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: School-University Partnership Research Roundtable: Preservice Teacher Education (Table 10)

Abstract

This paper will be centered on an innovative partnership that leveraged an anchor institute, Rutgers University- Newark (RU-N) and New Jersey’s largest school district to create an Early Childhood Elementary major in the Department of Urban Education at (RU-N).

This partnership was formed as an effort to meet the unique needs of a large urban district, preparing teachers to thrive in an environment that requires deep pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge, and cultural competency. The program emphasizes early exposure to urban teaching settings and robust curriculum and writing development.

Authors

• Jhanae Wingfield, Rutgers University - Newark

• Lynnette Mawhinney, Rutgers University - Newark

• Jazleen Othman, Newark Public Schools