Intersections of Race and Class in Preservice Teacher Education for Equity

• In Event: 25.040 - Teaching and Teacher Education Intersectionalities With Race, Class, and Gender: Movement Toward Equity in Education

Abstract

The purpose of this paper presentation is to provide an examination of intersectionalities of race and class in preservice education and how teacher education can increase the capacity for educational equity in racially and economically diverse classrooms. Interview data was collected from first-year teachers who had graduated from a program that prioritized a curriculum that examined the effects of race and class and their intersections in culturally diverse school settings. This data was then compared with how these recent graduates perceived the effectiveness of their student teaching experience as teacher candidates. The findings highlight the positive effects and benefits for educational equity when preservice teacher education is intentional in their field placement practices and expectations for teacher candidates assigned to classrooms that are racially and socio-economically diverse. The paper concludes with teacher education methodologies that can benefit all future teachers, especially those employed in schools with economically and racially diverse student populations.

Authors

• Kamala Vychel Williams, Prairie View A&M University

• Quinita Ogletree