Professional Development. Beyond the Technical: Critical Professional Development Supporting the Holistic Needs of Teachers of Color

• In Event: AERA Handbook Session 2

Abstract

Traditional approaches to teacher professional development (PD) often focus on more technical notions of teaching (i.e. curriculum development, literacy growth). We explore where culturally sustaining professional growth is holistic and interdependent with care and community, attending to political, social-emotional, and spiritual needs. Through data collected from critical teachers of Color, we found that they increased their professional self-efficacy and sense of belonging in the profession by having a PD space that: 1) attended to the impact of racism they were carrying by providing a space for self and community care, 2) responded to their racial and ideological isolation by facilitating community building and a sense of collectivity, and 3) cultivated culturally sustaining professional growth grounded in care and community.

Authors

• Rebeca Burciaga, San José State University

• Marcos Pizarro, San José State University

• Rita Kohli, University of California - Riverside