Fresno State will soon enhance its partnerships with Fresno City College and Reedley College to create a pathway of support for Latinx students who want to be teachers in the San Joaquin Valley.

It will start with recruiting early in local high schools, helping students through the community colleges then into Fresno State’s liberal studies and teacher credential program in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development to earn a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential.

The goal is to increase the number of bilingual Latinx teachers who will return to their hometowns to inspire and teach the community’s future leaders.

“It’s about growing our own — growing students who mirror children in P-12 schools whether it be ethnically, linguistically, racially or in terms of overall experiences,” said Dr. Laura Alamillo, interim dean for the Kremen School.

Fresno State received a five-year, $3.75 million Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will allow it to partner with the local community colleges in growing the Valley’s teachers. The grant was developed through the Office of the Provost.

“There is a huge demand in the region for teachers, especially Hispanic teachers whose proportions lag the proportion of Hispanic students,” said Dr. Robert Harper, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Fresno State is proud to partner with Fresno City College and Reedley College to provide a pipeline for future Hispanic teachers to return to their communities and make a difference in our Valley."

Visit Fresno State News to read more.