Innovative Teacher Preparation at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

This timely volume explores how one Hispanic-Serving Institution reimagined and transformed its teacher preparation program. Tracing the transformative journey through innovative curricular, pedagogical, and programmatic changes, the authors outline a new template of best practices for preparing teachers in collaboration with diverse communities. Each chapter is grounded in the program's culturally efficacious conceptual framework and uses a social justice theoretical lens to highlight the various aspects of this transformation. The contributors detail the impetus for reform that led to innovation, provide an in-depth examination of their implementation process, and offer evidence-based recommendations to inform other teacher preparation programs nationwide. Collectively, the chapters will inform other programs in HSIs, MSIs, and institutions serving diverse candidates, partnering with schools, and collaborating with communities. Essential reading for teacher educators, researchers, graduate students, and all those interested in the field of teacher education.

Belinda Bustos Flores is Professor Emerita, Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, and founder of the Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center, College of Education and Human Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Flores' numerous publications focus on teacher preparation and development. Dr. Flores has been recognized for her scholarship by various organizations, including the 2015 AERA Hispanic Research Issues SIG Elementary, Secondary, and Postsecondary Award and the 2019 AERA Bilingual Research SIG Lifetime Achievement Award. Ann Marie Ryan is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research concentrates on the connections between teaching, learning, and policy in P-12 schools and communities over time, emphasizing teacher preparation, social studies, and education history. Patricia Sánchez, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Sánchez-a first-generation college student-was born and raised along the El Paso-Juárez border in a bilingual Mexican immigrant home. In her research, Dr. Sánchez examines issues related to immigrant education, Latinx transnationalism, and the preparation of bilingual teachers; she has over 50 research publications in these areas.

Foreword: Juntos, We Will Rise-Equity and Social Justice in Teacher Preparation (Christine E. Sleeter) Section I: Programmatic and Curricular Redesign: Meeting the Multidimensional Demands of 21st Century Teacher Preparation Belinda Bustos Flores and Ann Marie Ryan Chapter 1: Reconceptualizing and Reimagining Our Teacher Preparation Program: Challenging Business as Usual Belinda Bustos Flores, Ann Marie Ryan, and Patricia Sánchez Chapter 2: Revolutionizing Traditional Student Teaching to a Signature Teacher Residency Clinical Experience Lorena Claeys and Belinda Bustos Flores Chapter 3: Collaborative Interdisciplinary Curriculum Design Kristen Lindahl, Samuel DeJulio, and María Leija Chapter 4: Integrating Universal Design for Learning across Teacher Education to Support Students' Learning Needs Yi-Fan Li, Ann Marie Ryan, Jennifer Gilardi Swoyer, Tiffany Farias-Sokoloski, and Dong-Yu Yang Section II: Clinical Innovation: Collaborating with Schools and Communities to Prepare Culturally Efficacious Teachers Belinda Bustos Flores and Ann Marie Ryan Chapter 5: Leveraging Teacher Residency Partnerships to Recruit and Retain High Quality Educators Jennifer Gilardi Swoyer and Tiffany Farias-Sokoloski Chapter 6: The Creation and Evolution of a Bilingual Education Residency Program: Growing and Preparing Culturally Efficacious Bilingual Education Teachers Claudia Treviño García, Gilberto P. Lara, Belinda Bustos Flores, Juanita Santos, and Helyde Torres Section III: Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation: Humanizing Teacher Preparation Ann Marie Ryan and Belinda Bustos Flores Chapter 7: The Riddle of the Middle: Lessons Learned in Redesigning Our Middle Grades Certification Pathways Marissa Aki'Nene Muñoz, Janis Harmon, and Crystal Kalinec-Craig Chapter 8: Platicando y Haciendo el Camino al Andar: Illuminating Bilingual Teacher Educator Praxis Gilberto P. Lara, Jorge L. Solís, and Talia Howard Section IV: Transformational Leaders as Agents of Change: Confronting Shifting Political Headwinds Ann Marie Ryan and Belinda Bustos Flores Chapter 9: Dual Transformation: Developing Cultural Efficacy and Teacher Leadership through a Mentored Yearlong Residency Monica Anguiano Chapter 10: Culturally Efficacious Transformative Leaders' Testimonios on Revolutionizing a Teacher Preparation Program Belinda Bustos Flores, Ann Marie Ryan, Patricia Sánchez, and Kristen Lindahl Afterword: Ongoing Commitment to Innovate, Refine, and Strengthen Practices Conra D. Gist