Strengths and shortcomings of a teacher preparation program: Learning from racially diverse preservice teachers

Racially diverse teachers are valuable sources of knowledge in school systems. However, a lack of diversity among teachers has demonstrated long-standing issues with how racially diverse teachers are prepared for teaching. The present study sought to expand on prior research by examining the viewpoi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Teacher Education and Educators Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 281 - 301
Main Authors Sharp,Laurie A, Carruba Rogel,Zuleyma, Diego Medrano,Elsa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published JTEE 01.03.2019
Uludag University, Education Faculty, Department of Educational Sciences
Subjects
Barriers
Critical Theory
Diversity (Faculty)
Educational Benefits
Eğitim Bilimleri
Hispanic Americans
Minority Group Teachers
Preservice Teacher Education
Preservice Teachers
Race
Racial Bias
Bursa
Türkiye
Critical race theory
racially diverse preservice teachers
teacher preparation
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Summary:Racially diverse teachers are valuable sources of knowledge in school systems. However, a lack of diversity among teachers has demonstrated long-standing issues with how racially diverse teachers are prepared for teaching. The present study sought to expand on prior research by examining the viewpoints of racially diverse preservice teachers concerning the strengths and shortcomings of their teacher preparation program using a transformative qualitative research design. We recruited participation among six racially diverse preservice teachers enrolled in a teacher preparation program affiliated with a university identified as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. We collected data through focus group interviews held during a two-week period and analyzed data systemically with two levels of coding. Our findings consisted of three main themes: Interactions with Peers and Teacher Preparation Program Stakeholders, Navigating Teacher Preparation Program Complexities, and Views of Preparedness/Unpreparedness to Teach. We provided a discussion of these themes, used critical race theory to identify examples of institutional racism, and issued three recommendations to university administrators for ways in which they may remove systemic barriers for racially diverse preservice teachers.
ISSN:2147-0456