TeacherCorps

Community Engagement Center and Department of Teacher Education

IARSLCEBaltimore, MD

September 23-25, 2012

State of Education in NMThe Annie E. Casey Foundation compiled data to gauge “child well-being” in the United States in its report entitled The Kids Count Data Book 2012: State Trends in Child Well-Being. The domains included are Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community.

New Mexico ranked 49th in the nation in overall child well-being and as follows in the domains: 48th in Economic Well-Being, 49th in Education, 49th in Health, and 49th in Family and Community.

Idea of TeacherCorps TeacherCorps was established through the Higher Education Act of 1965 to

improve teaching in predominantly low-income areas.

Interns under the supervision of master teachers are provided workshops by local colleges, public schools, and community organizations. The workshops give them a better understanding and context of low socioeconomic communities of color, enabling them to more effectively teach in inner city elementary schools.

The interns and their team leaders participated in and developed community engagement/service learning activities in various neighborhoods.

The University of New Mexico’s Department of Teacher Education and Community Engagement Center has revitalized this TeacherCorps idea in connection to AmeriCorps with foci on critical pedagogy and service learning.

Connecting AmeriCorpsAmeriCorps is “a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.”

AmeriCorps Educational Award can be used to pay for college or pay back qualified student loans upon completion of term of service.

UNM TeacherCorps are enrolled in 900 hours of service. They will receive approximately $2700 after successful completion of term.

Eligibility: US Citizen or permanent resident

17 years and older No felonies

Community-Based Organizations

K-12 Schools Before- and After-school Programs/Family Engagement Centers

TeacherCorps Members

TEACHERCORPS

Academics

Leadership Development

Community Engagemen

t

Community Engagement Center

Department of Teacher Education

These themes are interwoven throughout the teacher candidates’ field experiences, reflection sessions, and professional development workshops:

Innovative Teacher Preparation with a Focus on Community-Based Service-Learning and Civic Engagement

Viewing of Community Issues through an Assets-Based, Antiracism, Social Justice Lens

Partnerships with Families, Community Leaders, and Community-Based Organizations

Creation of Classroom Communities of Caring Learners and Thinkers through Interdisciplinary Teaching Methods

Themes of TeacherCorps

The Basics of TeacherCorps

Understand root causes and social barriers

Create culture of service-learning in schools

Provide coursework & field experiences to complete teaching licensure requirements

Place teacher candidates in community-based programs

Combine theoretical and

experiential community learning:

community-based curricula, policy

research methods, and pedagogical strategies

Provide AmeriCorps educational awards & work study stipends

Pedagogical Approach KNOWLEDGE

• Value community & parent knowledge• Incorporate an interdisciplinary approach• Integrate critical pedagogy from an ethnic

studies perspective• Participate in service learning workshops • Learn from community leaders• Critique educational system

ACTION• Engage in civic issues• Teach service-learning strategies with

connections to content and community identified needs

• Participate civic engagement activities • Student teach in schools• Engage with parents and communities

REFLECTION• Unpack students’ own identities• Reflect on self and identity• Facilitate reflection seminars• Conduct service learning projects• Reflect on practice

PRAXIS

Based on Paulo Freire’s Model of Praxis

Knowledge

ActionReflection

TeacherCorps Cohort 2012-2013 K-12 Teacher Education Candidates (Elementary and Secondary) 17 teacher candidates (10 teacher candidates in 2011- 2012) Field Experience Placements in public and charter elementary, middle, and high schools

TeacherCorps Experience• Commit to a 2 to 3-semester experience (depending on teacher

education program)• Work with other TeacherCorps members and Cooperating Teachers to

create and implement service-learning opportunities in classrooms and schools

• Student Teach an additional 1 day per week• Serve in community-based programs• Participate in critical dialogue reflection seminar (EDUC 493)• Learn and share in community-based service learning trainings with

Cooperating Teachers• Connect methods coursework to TeacherCorps community-based

experiences

Reflection Seminar Topics

• Asset Mapping• African American Education• Bilingual Education• Civic Engagement• Community Gardens• Critical Race Theory• Food Insecurity• Environmental Justice• Indigenous Education• Inquiry-based Curriculum• Immigration • LGBTQ • Local & National Policies

• Parental and Family Engagement• Restorative Justice• Service-Learning Workshops with

Cooperating Teachers

Service Learning Projects 2011- 2012

Grade Level Project TopicKindergarten Growing Chilies in our

Community GardenKindergarten Creating a Mosaic Tile School

MuralSecond Helping the Storehouse Fight

PovertyFourth Mapping the Assets of Our

CommunityFifth Keeping Our Community CleanEighth Feeling the Homeless in our

NeighborhoodNinth and Tenth Writing Spanish Language

Family Cookbooks

Data Collection Pre- and post-teacher, preservice teacher, student, and community

surveys Focus groups and interviews with students, teachers, community

members, and faculty Document number of service-learning projects implemented, and students

and community partners involved  Document lesson plans and curriculum through student portfolios

Personal Definition of Community-Based Service Learning

Pre-Experience Survey

Help Com

munity

Proble

m Solve

Communi

ty Inv

olvem

ent

Learni

ng Mea

ningfu

l

Increa

sed Se

lf-Efficac

y

Critica

lly Th

ink0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Num

ber

of R

espo

nses

Pre-Experience SurveyAchievement Gap Between Children of Different Racial and Ethnic

Group

Socioeconomic Status School Funding Time at Work Biased Standards Lack of Resources0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Num

ber

of R

espo

nses

Willing to Participate Work Language Difficulties Placement of Responsibility0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Num

ber

of R

espo

nses

Pre-Survey ExperienceChallenges to Children’s Learning in Classrooms to

Parents

Pre-Experience SurveyAssets Seen in the Community

Help People Community Demographics Sense of Pride Facilities Parents0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Num

ber

of R

espo

nses

Mid-Year Survey

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Three Strengths of the TeacherCorps Program

Num

ber

of R

espo

nses

Mid-Year Survey

Improved Teaching Beyond Classroom People Awareness Connections0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

TeacherCorps' Impact on Preparation for the Teaching Profession

Num

ber

of R

espo

nses

TeacherCorps Testimonials It has been a growing experience for me and I have learned so much

about the community that I am teaching in which has helped me be a better teacher. I am nothing but grateful to this program for showing me that there is more then one way to become a better teacher.

- P. Albo

My involvement with TeacherCorps has helped me understand better the needs of the community in which I teach and helped me know how to teach through service. It has prepared me to teach more effectively because I notice factors outside of the classroom and how they are affecting my students. - B. Divett

I have learned so much about the education gap and the factors that contribute to it. It has better equipped to handle social issues that will arise in my first year of teaching.

- M. Garcia

The discussions and goals we have with Teachercorps are the reasons I am in education. I'm grateful for the encouragement, inspiration, and support that I get.

- A. Vaughan

Contact Information:Marjori Krebs

Asst. Professor Teacher EducationPresidential Fellowmkrebs@unm.edu

Kiran KatiraDirector

Community Engagement Centerkiru2u@yahoo.com