Associate Professor of Education Dr. Danette Day welcomed Fitchburg State University alumnus Mrs. Samira Ait Zbair '23 and her 5th grade class from McKay Elementary School to work with the students in her Culturally Proficient Educator course to implement a program called Making Friends, Building Community, and Increasing Cultural Awareness Across Campus. This is made possible by a grant from the Dean’s Anti Racism Fund. Our Dean of Education, Mojdeh Bayat stopped by to observe and interact with the students, also sharing her experience of being a non-English speaking student.
The course provides teacher candidates opportunities to develop an understanding and appreciation of multicultural perspectives and opportunities to develop skills to effectively work cross-culturally with peers, co-workers, students, and parents/guardians. The course develops teacher candidates’ skills in critical thinking, active reading, effective communication, and the identification and refinement of cultural proficiency. Candidates become engaged thinkers, learners, and contributing members of the classroom while developing culturally responsive teaching skills to effectively meet the needs of all learners in diverse environments.
