Project Summary

Our Leading with Diversity (LWD) Professional Development Curriculum explores the cultural competencies—i.e., the skills and awareness related to issues such as culture, language, race, and ethnicity—that educators need to work with students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Based on a publication developed by The Education Alliance, this customizable curriculum is delivered through trainings that examine current research on culturally responsive teaching and practical implications for the classroom. These sessions are intended for higher education, state- and district-level educators, and other professional developers who wish to integrate cultural competencies into their own programs.

The LWD professional development curriculum is organized according to three main themes in cultural competence: 1) culture, 2) language, and 3) race and ethnicity. For each theme, the course describes various competencies and associated performances that indicate a teacher’s effectiveness. For example, four competencies are addressed under the heading of culture:

• Developing cultural awareness
• Providing high-level, challenging, culturally relevant curriculum and instruction
• Collaborating with parents and families
• Making classroom assessment equitable and valid for all students

Coursework in these competencies examines relevant supporting research and theory and describes the specific performances and dispositions educators must acquire in this dimension.

Publications related to this project:

• Leading with Diversity: Cultural Competencies for Teacher Preparation and Professional Development