With changing demographics across the country, educational institutions are increasing their focus on equity, particularly in terms of how to serve their Latinx students. New and emerging HSIs in particular lack Latinx faculty to serve as role models for their students. Providing professional development in Culturally Responsive Education can help existing and future faculty learn to productively engage their students. As faculty shift mindsets to asset-based thinking and a climate of mutual respect is established, the learning environment for student in technical fields will improve. When students learn in a supportive environment, they have increased chances for success.

Culturally Responsive Education for Advanced Technician Educators (CREATE) is a 3-tier framework that helps STEM educators develop beliefs and competencies that are culturally responsive. Culturally responsive approaches use the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, frames of reference, and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning encounters more relevant and effective for them (Geneva Gay, 2013).

• STEM educators who implement culturally responsive practices in their classes improve engagement and retention of Latinos and other underrepresented students in STEM.

• As a STEM educator, you should care about this because Latinos are currently underrepresented in STEM Job clusters, yet represent a growing population, along with other students of color that could meet the country’s anticipated shortage of 5 million technically credentialed workers.

• Get started with simple proven practices that other STEM educators like you have implemented.

• You don’t need to be an expert on day 1. Start where you are at, but don’t stay there.

• To begin your journey, dive into the CREATE curriculum and get started with the first learning module. Bienvenidos!!