What is the Research Initiative?

Faculty in the program of Teaching & Teacher Education, Mexican American Studies & Research Center, and local school districts are collaborating to research and disseminate best practice for preparing teachers for the burgeoning Mexican origin student population in Arizona. The Initiative links faculty and students across departments who are conducting research on various aspects of teacher preparation to work in schools with significant Mexican origin students.

Faculty are collaborating on 1) collecting and disseminating research on preparing teachers for Mexican American students, 2) identifying the most promising and salient areas for further research, 3) planning a coordinated research agenda that will address identified areas in a comprehensive manner, and 4) designing and conducting research on what teachers need to know in order to be more effective with Mexican American students and 5) disseminating information.

Initiative Goals

• Critically examine what is currently known about effective teacher preparation for Mexican American students
• Compile and organize what is known in research and practice
• Design and conduct applied research in collaboration with Arizona schools
• Disseminate research findings to the profession (teacher education), to educators and policy makers statewide
• Inform and influence teacher education programs at the University of Arizona and across the state

Click here for a report on the Initiative at the University of Arizona (Word doc, 60kb).

Contact Information:

Toni Griego Jones, PhD.
Program of Teaching & Teacher Education
College of Education The University of Arizona
PO Box 210069
Tucson, AZ 85721
520-626-8062 (Fax) 520-621-7877
Email at: mariej@u.arizona.edu