Performance-Based Coaching: Educator Preparation Provider Application
Project Leadership: Dr. Alma Rodriguez (Co-Lead) and Dr. Sandra Musanti (Co-Lead)
Funding Amount: $374,988.00
Sponsor: Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity (BranchED)
Project Description: The UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration is one of four minority-serving institutions selected by the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity (BranchEd) to join its national Teacher Preparation Transformation Center, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr. Alma Rodriguez, interim dean of the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration, and Dr. Sandra Musanti, associate professor in the Bilingual and Literacy Studies Department, worked on the grant proposal and will co-lead grant implementation.
They will work collaboratively with BranchEd, which will provide training, technical assistance and funding to UTRGV, to advance outcomes and amplify contributions as the second-largest Hispanic Serving Institution in preparing effective diverse teachers.
The initial school district partner in the project is Harlingen CISD. Veronica Kortan, administrator for Organizational Development; Jennifer Herrera, Talent Acquisition and Development; and Celeste Santa Ana, fifth-grade teacher and UTRGV alumna, are part of the project’s initial leadership team.
“Funding from BranchED will help the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration support ongoing initiatives and program faculty committed to transforming teacher preparation,” Rodriguez said.
“Being part of the Teacher Preparation Transformation Center is a unique opportunity to continue our actual commitment and ongoing initiatives to high quality, sustainable, practice-based, culturally and linguistically sustaining teacher preparation,” she said.
The grant is for $374,998 over three years, and began Jan. 1, 2019.
VIDEO on BranchEd Transformation Center Launch: