Pushing the Envelope: The Need for a Suburban University to Prepare PreService Teachers as Culturally Competent Practitioners
Oakland University is located in Rochester, Michigan in the region of Oakland County. Oakland County, Michigan happens to be the second wealthiest county in America. This same county is home to one of the nation's most challenged inner cities, Pontiac, Michigan. Further Oakland County is adjacent to America's poorest big city, Detroit, Michigan. Both Pontiac and Detroit are comprised of minorities and suffer with the same economic, social, and racial ills that plague most urban areas. Consequently, student achievement continuously lags in these areas. Among the challenges are teacher recruitment and retention within these areas. Many teachers are not attracted to these areas for all the reasoned named and more. More importantly, if teachers manage to work in these environments, it is for an abbreviated period of time and often times the teachers are not met with success. The teachers remain there until an opportunity in a suburb presents itself. This paper will begin to address the need for Oakland University to begin to prepare its teachers to teach successfully within these environments. Ensuring that Oakland's future teachers are culturally competent may enhance the future teacher's ability to navigate and ultimately survive within these environments.
Keywords: Cultural Compentence, Urban Schools, Teacher Preparation, Higher Education and Diversity, Diversity
Dr. Jumanne Sledge
Visiting Assistant Professor, Teacher Development and Educational Studies, Oakland University
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Prior to joining the faculty at Oakland University, Dr. Sledge worked as a teacher and principal in inner city and suburban K-12 school districts. The lessons learned and social injustices observed allow him to passionately write and speak internationally and nationally concerning the challenges of minority students and other underrepresented ethnic and racial groups in American public schools.
Dr. Pamela Morehead
Visiting Assistant Professor, Teacher Development and Educational Studies, Oakland University
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As a highly recognized and most talented scholar and curriculum designer, Dr. Morehead is currently developing a new program offering in Teacher Leadership at Oakland University.
Ref: L06P0318