The University’s Role in Preparing Culturally Competent Teachers

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the role of the university-based teacher education program and, more specifically, on one faculty member's effort to help preservice teachers to become culturally competent. Cultural competence is a term that has been used in a variety of fields of study, including social work, nursing, and education. Cultural competence embodies a sense of humility, openness, and comfort in seeking and sustaining cross-cultural interactions and relationships. At the beginning of a teacher preparation program, teacher educators should assess the cultural competence of preservice teachers in order to shape the program in ways that enable preservice teachers to reflect on their own beliefs about culture and diversity. Within the university and especially within a teacher education program, achieving and supporting cultural competence among faculty and eventually among students often requires major systemic shifts that result in sustained, coherent programming across the entire university and program.