MARCH 3, 2021 — UTSA’s undergraduate and graduate elementary teacher preparation programs have been named among the top in the country for contributing to greater teacher diversity by the National Council on Teacher Quality, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research and policy organization.
UTSA’s programs are among only 21% of the 1,256 NCTQ evaluated across the country and among 25 programs in Texas to be recognized in a new NCTQ report for enrolling a cohort of future teachers that is both more racially diverse than the current teacher workforce in their state and reflects the racial diversity of their local community.
“We pride ourselves on producing culturally efficacious leaders who strive to be agents of change in our communities,” said Juliet Langman, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “We do this by following principles of community, integrity, equity, excellence, diversity, scholarship and service.”
All students benefit from a diverse teacher workforce, particularly those of color. Research has found that having same-race teachers increases student achievement and improves the likelihood of graduating high school and attending college for students of color. Recruiting a racially diverse cohort of future teachers into preparation programs is a first and necessary step in the path to a more diverse teacher workforce.
“A diverse teacher workforce is essential if we are to achieve a high quality teacher workforce. One can’t happen without the other. Teacher prep programs are well-positioned to take the lead,” said NCTQ President Kate Walsh. “We applaud programs like the University of Texas at San Antonio that are leading the way.”
In the report, Teacher Prep Review: Program Diversity and Admissions (2021), NCTQ analyzed the diversity of each elementary teacher preparation program by comparing the diversity of the teacher candidates enrolled in the program to two factors: the diversity of the state teacher workforce and the diversity of the local community where the program is located.
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