Austin, Texas, Nov. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its ongoing work to strengthen and grow teacher preparation at Minority Serving Institutions, the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity (BranchED) launched its national Teacher Preparation Transformation Center by kicking off its inaugural cohort of four universities. By participating in this cohort, the schools of education will join a unique community of practice where university faculty and their PK-12 partners can access resources and professional development, network with others, share data, and learn from each other to move toward sustainability and innovation. The ultimate goal is to dramatically redesign these programs to produce greater numbers of diverse high-quality teachers.
The participating institutions are California State University - Fresno in Fresno, Calif.; North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.; South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C.; and University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.
“These universities stand out as innovators who are committed to changing the way providers have traditionally approached teacher prep by implementing research-based practices and developing modern approaches to improve teacher quality and diversity,” said Dr. Cassandra Herring, president and CEO of BranchED.
BranchED’s Transformation Center is rooted in the organization’s work to redefine what constitutes quality educator preparation through commitment to a collective vision that marries quality and diversity in reflection of the changing demographics in America. The three-year program provides intensive and individualized coaching and support services to teacher educators and PK-12 partners of each of the four participating universities. Providers will work with BranchED staff to draft and implement an individualized plan for systemic and sustainable improvement. The goal is to ensure that all their graduates are competent and confident in their ability to teach all students.
The four partner institutions were selected through a rigorous review process and are diverse in terms of location, size, and demographics. However, they all are aligned and committed to the same transformation goals, which will be advanced through their participation in the program. Over the course of the three-year program, participating institutions will engage in annual site visits from a BranchED facilitator and cohort workshops, and have access to BranchED’s online platform to engage, learn, and connect with fellow partners.
This inaugural cohort will model and share best practices in teacher preparation, with the goal of replication across MSIs and other educator preparation providers in future years. Since the current teacher workforce is 80 percent white, many diverse students are not benefitting from instruction by a teacher who looks like them—a practice that leads to academic improvement and other positive outcomes. BranchED’s Transformation Center will promulgate successful efforts in improving and innovating in educator preparation programs, such that they produce increasing numbers of highly effective, diverse teachers who are equipped to support all students.
The Transformation Center Coaching Cohort is made possible by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health with vaccines and other life-saving tools and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to significantly improve education so that all young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
About the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity
The Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity (BranchED) is the hub of a national network of high-impact educator preparation programs at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). It provides practical technical assistance to advance institutional outcomes, foster strategic alliances to spur collaboration and innovation, and amplify the unique contributions of MSIs in preparing teachers who will educate America’s citizens. BranchED is named in honor of Mary Elizabeth Branch, who led a transformation in educator preparation and diversity. She was also the first woman of color to serve as president of an accredited senior college in the United States of America. To learn more about BranchED, visit EducatorDiversity.org.
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