Becoming Maestra: Latina Paraprofessionals as Teacher Candidates in Bilingual Education

Abstract

In a qualitative evaluation of a college paraeducator-to-bilingual-teacher program, participants talked about life experiences that contributed to their commitments to teaching and what helped and encouraged them to be successful in their academic work. Some themes that emerged were previous education in participants' home countries, involvement in their children's school experiences, the respect they received from professors, the support of their families, and the opportunity to be role models to their children.