Professional Development, Advocacy, and Ethics-CAEP Principle D: Professional Responsibility

Candidates engage in ongoing professional development opportunities that strengthen their own linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical competence and promote reflection on practice. Candidates articulate the role and value of languages and cultures in preparing all students to interact successful in the global community of the 21st century. They understand the importance of collaboration to advocate for the learning of languages and cultures. Candidates understand and explain the opportunities and responsibilities inherent in being a professional language educator and are committed to equitable and ethical interactions with all stakeholders (ACTFL & CAEP 29).

CAEP Principle D: Professional Responsibility

●Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The candidate engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner. 

●Leadership and Collaboration. The candidate seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession (CAEP 21). 

Civic and Professional Ethics / Ética cívica y profesional

I understand the importance and benefits of belonging to a professional learning community. I am aware that different communities render support at different stages of my learning-to-teach continuum and career development, and professional development is a life-long endeavor. I develop the ability to reflect on how my involvement in these professional learning communities strengthens my own linguistic and cultural competence and refines my pedagogical practices (ACTFL & CAEP 29-30). 

I believe that all students can benefit from language and culture study. I learn how to articulate a rationale for the importance of language and culture learning in the overall curriculum. I access relevant data, and make a case for language programs that offer a variety of language options that prepare all students to interact successfully in today’s global society. I communicate the multiple benefits of language and culture learning to varied audiences. I understand the importance of building ongoing alliances and build multimedia advocacy messages with all stakeholders to promote the goal of language learning for all P-12 students.

I recognize the importance of being socialized into the profession and the responsibilities entailed in becoming a professional language educator. I seek, value and emulate mentors. I assume responsibility for selecting appropriate curriculum and instructional resources for my students as well as providing access to and equity in learning for all students. I learn about the school community and genuinely engage in ethical and professional interactions with students, colleagues and all stakeholders, even when these interactions may be of a challenging nature (ACTFL & CAEP 29-30).

Degrees / Titulaciones universitarias

I am a PhD in Hispanic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) (min. 54:50), with a Graduate Specialization in both Education −Initial Teaching Certification in Spanish grades 7-12− and Women’s and Gender Studies, as well as a Certificate in Digital Humanities. I defended my dissertation in June of 2021 and graduated in August of 2021. As part of my pedagogical training, I also graduated in August 2021 with a Master’s degree in Education. 

Pedagogical Training / Entrenamiento pedagógico

• TEAC 897R – World Languages Student Teaching at Lincoln public Schools (Spanish for Heritage Speakers) (Starts in Spring 2021).

• TEAC 852R – Secondary World Languages Methods II (Fall 2020).

• TEAC 894 – Practicum in World Languages at Lincoln Public Schools (Spanish) (Fall 2020). 

•  EDPS 851 – Education and Psychology: Psychology of Adolescence (Summer 2020).

• SPED 801B Special Education: Accommodating Exceptional Learners in the Secondary Education Classroom (Summer 2020).

• TOGS – Teaching Online for Graduate Students: Professional Development Training for Online Instruction (Fall 2018).

• TEAC 801 – Curriculum Inquiry (Summer 2018). 

• TEAC 815A – Foundations of Dual Language Education (Fall 2017).

• TEAC 800 – Inquiry: Teaching and Learning (Summer 2017).

• TEAC 851R – Secondary World Languages Methods I (Spring 2016).

• TEAC 813J – Intercultural Communication (Spring 2016).

Conferences / Conferencias

I have been an active scholar in the field of Hispanic studies by presenting in numerous national and international conferences 

Education Abroad / Educación en el extranjero

As part of my involvement in experiential learning, since 2016 I have worked as UNL Faculty Leader for the Study Abroad Program at the University of Deusto in Spain, supervising more than 20 students every summer.