Margarita Bianco

Twice-Exceptional Learners: Effects of Teacher Preparation and Disability Labels on Gifted Referrals

The goal of this mixed methods study was to explore differences among teachers (n = 52 special education teachers, n = 195 general education teachers, and n = 30 gifted education teachers) on their perceptions of students with disabilities and their willingness to refer them to a gifted and talented program. In this follow-up to an earlier work, data reveal that teachers’ decisions for referral are significantly influenced by their teaching credentials and by the presence or absence of a disability label. When compared to teachers of gifted students and general education teachers, special education teachers are least likely to refer students to a gifted program, with disabilities and without. Results further indicate that all teachers are much less willing to refer students with disability labels to gifted programs than identically described students with no disability labels.

Ganas: A Qualitative Study Examining Mexican Heritage Students’ Motivation to Succeed in Higher Education

The disparity between the educational attainment of Mexican heritage and White individuals illustrate a need for research on factors associated with the high educational attainment of some immigrant and first-generation students of Mexican descent. Using autobiographies, student interviews, and family interviews as data sources, this article explores one prominent theme that emerged: Students’ desire to honor parental struggle and sacrifice with academic achievement—Ganas. The implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.The disparity between the educational attainment of Mexican heritage and White individuals illustrate a need for research on factors associated with the high educational attainment of some immigrant and first-generation students of Mexican descent. Using autobiographies, student interviews, and family interviews as data sources, this article explores one prominent theme that emerged: Students’ desire to honor parental struggle and sacrifice with academic achievement—Ganas. The implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Response to Intervention Promises and Pitfalls for Gifted Students With Learning Disabilities

This article explores the promises and pitfalls of a response to intervention (RTI) model for gifted students with learning disabilities (LD). Although much has been written about the potential benefits and challenges of RTI for identifying and serving students with LD, the ramifications of this model for gifted students with LD have not been fully explored. This article addresses this void by examining the potential of RTI to meet the unique learning needs of gifted students with LD. Inherent challenges this model may pose are discussed and suggestions for practitioners are provided.

Strength-based RTI: Developing gifted potential in Spanish speaking English language learners

This article proposes a strength-based response to intervention (RTI) model for developing and identifying gifted potential in English language learners (ELLs). In the recent years, much has been written about RTI; however, the potential of RTI for meeting the needs of gifted ELLs has not yet been explored. This article seeks to address this void by proposing a multi-tiered system of supports designed to meet the unique learning needs of gifted, Spanish-speaking ELLs.

Pathways to Teaching: The Perspectives and Experiences of Two Black Male Teens Considering Teaching as a Career

This chapter describes a precollegiate course designed to encourage high school students of color to explore teaching and presents the findings from case studies on two Black male students enrolled in the course who are now preparing to pursue a career in teaching. The research questions guiding the two case studies include: (a) What factors influence Black males to consider teaching? (b) What roles do race, ethnicity, and school experiences play in Black males’ exploration of teaching? and (c) What aspects of the course are most influential in Black males’ exploration of teaching and related fields? The results of these case studies expose the complexity of effective recruitment of Black male teachers. The insights provided by these two teens can provide substantial guidance for the improvement of educational policy and practice in order to increase the recruitment and retention of Black male teachers.

Examining Grow Your Own Programs Across the Teacher Development Continuum: Mining Research on Teachers of Color and Nontraditional Educator Pipelines

Grow Your Own (GYO) programs are cited in recent policy briefs as viable pathways for increasing the racial/ethnic diversity of teachers, yet recent scholarship on GYO programs is minimal. To address this issue, this article investigates what we know, and do not know, about GYO programs, by examining a range of data sources on different types of GYO program teacher pools (e.g., middle/high school, paraprofessional, community activists/parents mentors) and making sense of findings over a continuum of teacher development (e.g., recruitment, preparation, induction, and retention). Based on a research synthesis within and across GYO program teacher pools, we argue implications for policy, practice, and research that should accompany increased recommendations for expanding GYO models for Teachers of Color.

Pushed to Teach: Pedagogies and Policies for a Black Women Educator Pipeline.

This research study examines the learning experiences of 11th- and 12th-grade Black girls participating in a precollegiate program committed to increasing the number of Teachers of Color entering the profession by viewing a teaching career as an act of social justice committed to educational equity. The pipeline functions as an education reform structure to disrupt pedagogies and policies that push Black girls out of educational spaces at disproportionate rates by instead pushing Black girls to teach. Critical race and Black feminist theories are utilized to analyze interviews from Black girls over a 5-year period of the program and composite characters are developed to spotlight key findings that allow us to (a) better understand and amplify the collective learning and social-emotional experiences of Black girls in the program, (b) highlight and critique the challenges and possibilities for positively pushing Black girls’ intellectual identities as students and future teachers via pedagogies and supports, (c) identify spaces and structures in schools that can resist and combat the marginalization of Black girls’ agency and genius, and (d) consider implications for the development of Black Women Educator pipelines.

Understanding Urban High School Students of Color Motivation to Teach: Validating the FIT-Choice Scale

The Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) scale was completed by 86 high school students of color prior to beginning a class focusing on motivating students to become interested in teaching. Findings based on confirmatory factor analysis support the underlying FIT-Choice scale factor structure reported in previous studies. Students’ perceptions about teaching and motivations to teach were significantly lower compared with predominantly White female pre-service and in-service teachers for the majority of factors. The high school students of color were most drawn to teaching by their respect for the proficiency required of a good teacher.