COEKSW News

Stan State Professor to Co-direct Center for Transformational Educator Preparation Programs

Dr. Noelle Won (Stanislaus State) and Dr. Bre Evans-Santiago (CSU Bakersfield) have been appointed co-directors of CSU CTEPP. Supported by a $3 million grant (2021-2024) from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this Center is designed to support CSU campuses in context-specific efforts focused on recruiting, preparing and retaining Black, Indigenous and Teachers of Color to serve California’s diverse student population. Ten CSU campus teacher preparation teams and their K-12 partners will be funded for 2 years to engage in work aligned with the CTEPP vision and mission through these initiatives:

1. Transformation Lab (TLab). Teams will engage in self-assessments of their preparation programs, choose goals and work toward them with the guidance of improvement coaches at the CSU Educator Quality Center.
2. Equity and Excellence Certification. Teams will participate in professional development culminating in a certification that improves understanding of educational equity and builds theoretical and practical capacity to engage in anti-racism and equity work.
3. Transformative Teaching and Learning Community. Team members will network through virtual meetings, share content and be provided ​with curated resources.
   “The Center for Transformational Educator Preparation will ensure that CSU programs prepare quality teaching candidates who understand the importance of educational equity and are well equipped to engage in meaningful ways with their students," said Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Ph.D., CSU assistant vice chancellor of Educator Preparation and Public School Programs. “The ability to recruit, retain and prepare culturally responsive educators is critical to the success of students and the state. CSU CTEPP will allow us to continue and broaden our critical work with even greater impact."

After a competitive application process, Stanislaus State and Modesto City Schools represent one of the CTEPP teams for cohort 2. Our team is led by Dr. Cassandra Drake (Liberal Studies), along with Dr. Shannon Panfilio-Padden (Teacher Education) and Dr. Ana York (Teacher Education).

Dr. Noelle Won is the Co-PI on the CTC Residency Capacity grant with Ceres USD. The $83,000 grant is dedicated to developing a residency pathway in partnership with Ceres USD and Stan State.  Ceres Unified School District (CUSD) and California State University Stanislaus (CSUS) are located in one of the economically disadvantaged and most diverse regions in the United States.  Area schools are challenged by pervasive and persistent opportunity gaps based on socioeconomic background, ethnicity, and English Learner status. The differences are particularly glaring in special education, mathematics and science. 30% of Ceres students are English Language Learners and 85% are socioeconomically disadvantaged. In 2021, only 14.82% of students met or exceeded the standard for mathematics across the district (CAASPP) while 18% of students met or exceeded the standard for science (CAASPP).

 To close the opportunity gaps, educators need to develop stronger skills in culturally responsive teaching and antiracist practices. Stronger preparation experiences require capacity building of mentor teachers and the development of a more cohesive clinical and coursework infrastructure. 

This residency funding is earmarked to establish a new Single Subject STEM residency cohort and to expand the current residency pathways for Multiple Subject BILA and special education to also include general education TK candidates. Another goal of this grant is to also attract candidates of color to diversify the teacher workforce to more closely reflect the demographics of the student population of the Ceres Unified School District.