They’re Teachers, Students – and Journalists - April 10th, 2009

Proyecto Maestria participants who wrote for Ahora Si are (left to right): Marizza Marquez, Melissa Calderon, Claudia Granillo, Monica Tellez de Arste, Anna Moreno, Myrna Sanchez, Lucy Camarillo-May, Elsa Ibarra, Dr. Maria Franquiz and Martha Sanchez.

A group of bilingual education teachers getting their master’s degree at The University of Texas at Austin had an opportunity this spring to expand their horizons and give journalism a try.

In addition to teaching in Austin Independent School District and attending graduate school, the students took on the role of columnist and wrote for ¡Ahora Si!, a Spanish language publication produced by the Austin American-Statesman.

The graduate students are part of Proyecto Maestría, a collaborative program between the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Austin Independent School District (AISD). Students admitted to Proyecto Maestría have a chance to get in-depth knowledge about the education of linguistically and culturally diverse student populations, obtain advanced teaching skills and learn research techniques that will enhance their prospects for professional advancement. The AISD teachers who are part of the small, elite group complete the program while also teaching full-time.

“Elizabeth Villarreal-Perales, who is clinical supervisor and project director of Proyecto Maestría grant, knows the ¡Ahora Si! editor and asked if our students could contribute by writing a column that addresses Latino parents’ questions and concerns,” said Dr. Deborah Palmer, assistant professor and Proyecto Maestría program director. “Our students have written about a little of everything – how to handle the transition from elementary to middle school, consequences of too many absences or tardies, reasons to enroll your child in bilingual programs, what the PTA is and how to get involved in it and what to do if your child cries when you drop her off at school.

“This spring semester was our first time to have students write for ¡Ahora Si!, and it’s been so much fun and such a great success. It’s amazing how hard these graduate students work and how much they’re able to handle. They’re students here in the College of Education while also working full-time as bilingual education teachers and serving in various capacities as leaders in their schools. Our first cohort of Proyecto Maestría teachers graduates this August and we’ve got a brand new cohort starting this June – we want to continue this extremely effective program for as long as we can sustain it and as long as the graduate students are interested in it.”

Read one of the columns written by a Proyecto Maestría student at ¡Ahora Si!. To learn more about the program, please visit the Proyecto Maestría Website.

Related Sites:

• Maestras responden
• ¡Ahora Si!
• Proyecto Maestría Website