Professional learning for secondary teachers of English learners in an urban school district: examining systems of support
Journal of Professional Capital and Community
ISSN: 2056-9548
Article publication date: 26 October 2021
Issue publication date: 5 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Although schools across the United States are becoming increasingly linguistically and culturally diverse, many teachers remain underprepared to work with students classified as English learners (ELs), especially at the secondary level. Acknowledging the importance of developing systems of support for teachers of ELs, this paper examines the district- and school-level factors shaping secondary teachers' access to EL-focused professional learning in one large urban school district.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine teachers' access to EL-focused professional learning, the authors draw on 49 in-depth interviews with district leaders and staff from nine secondary schools. Data analysis was guided by a structure, culture and agency theoretical framework.
Findings
Findings revealed that decreased structural support, in terms of both fiscal and human resources, constrained teachers' access to EL-related professional learning. Further, the district culture was characterized by limited understanding of ELs' backgrounds and assets. While some school leaders exercised agency to bolster EL-focused professional learning for teachers, such supports were rare.
Practical implications
Findings help to contextualize secondary teachers' feelings of unpreparedness to serve ELs, illuminating several factors that district and school leaders should attend to in order to bolster the development of professional capital for teachers of ELs at the secondary level.
Originality/value
While prior research outlines the importance of designing systems of support for EL-focused professional learning, this study highlights specific structural and cultural factors shaping such systems.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are immensely grateful to the schools and educators who participated in this study. The authors would also like to acknowledge the collaborators, including Julian Betts, Laura Hill, Magaly Lavadenz, Marco Murillo, Nidia Hernandez and Tara Vahdani and especially Leslie Gautsch and Kathryn E. Wiley who contributed directly to the data collection and analysis related to this paper. The study would not have been possible without the generous support of the William T. Grant Foundation. The ideas presented in this paper are those of the authors and do not represent the funding agency in any way.
Citation
Weddle, H., Yoshisato, M. and Hopkins, M. (2022), "Professional learning for secondary teachers of English learners in an urban school district: examining systems of support", Journal of Professional Capital and Community, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 176-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-11-2020-0084
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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