Crafting Culturally Efficacious Teacher Preparation and Pedagogies

Belinda Bustos Flores is professor and associate dean for professor preparation, assessment, and accreditation at University of Texas at San AntonioLorena Claeysis is executive director and research associate of the Academy for Teacher Excellence College of Education at the University of Texas at San AntonioConra D. Gist is assistant professor of childhood education at University of Arkansas

• Foreword: Ana Maria VillegasPrefaceAcknowledgementsChapter 1: Creating Spaces for Culturally Efficacious PedagogiesChapter 2: Contextualizing Culturally Efficacious Teacher Preparation: The Accelerated Teacher Education ProgramChapter 3: Tania’s Case Study: Out of the Shadows, Transforming Lives as a Culturally Efficacious TeacherChapter 4: Leo’s Case Study: Disrupting Hegemonic Discourse: Is that really gonna happen? Am I never gonna amount to anything? Chapter 5: Catherine’s Case Study: Teaching as a Privilege—Those who can, Teach Effectively in Diverse CommunitiesChapter 6: Kennu’s Case Study: Ambassador and Cultural Broker for Underrepresented Youth in ScienceChapter 7: Unpacking and Exploring Cultural Efficaciousness: Evidence Across Teacher Case StudiesChapter 8: Towards Social Justice: Realizing and Sustaining Culturally Efficacious PedagogiesAfterword: Final Thoughts: Reimagining Teacher Education as a Commitment to Social Justice, Ellen Riojas ClarkReferencesAbout the Author

Flores, Claeys, and Gist could have simply offered a report of the fine work of their highly acclaimed Accelerated Teacher Education program. By building on, and extending research and practice in culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies, they have done much more. The authors make a compelling case for culturally efficacious teaching, highlighting the importance of teacher critical self-understanding in relation to the children they teach and to their students’ communities. The book, and its wonderful case studies, offer an important addition to teacher education and professional development programs.