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Curtis Acosta, Ph.D. Prior to his current role as assistant professor in language and culture in education, Curtis Acosta was a high school teacher for nearly 20 years, where he developed and taught Chicanx/Latinx literature classes for the renowned Mexican-American Studies program in the Tucson. He is an award-winning educator who was named one of the “Top 10 Latinos to Watch in US Politics” by the Huffington Post. His work was featured in the documentaries Precious Knowledge and Dolores, as well as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has had articles published in The English Journal, Voices in Urban Education, Multicultural Perspectives and the books Educational Courage: Resisting the Ambush of Public Education and Rethinking Sexism, Gender, and Sexuality. Dr. Acosta is the founder of the Acosta Educational Partnership, a consultation firm that helps educators create culturally sustaining and humanizing educational practices in their classrooms, schools, and communities. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and later obtained a Master of Arts degree and Ph.D. in Language, Reading, and Culture from the University of Arizona. His current passion is assisting educators in the application of community and culturally sustaining pedagogy, in combination with humanizing teaching practices, in order for youth of color, and all students, to reach their academic potential. |
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Jeannette S. Gabaldón, M.Ed. Jeannette Gabaldón is currently the Co-Director of the Humanizing and Culturally Affirming Teacher (HCAT) Program, where she ensures that students receive high-quality instruction and field experiences. Her responsibilities include recruitment and selecting students for the program, providing them with the support they need to succeed academically and professionally, and maintaining relationships with schools and school districts to ensure that graduates are knowledgeable and well-prepared teachers. With 25 years of experience in Title 1 schools, Jeannette has taught middle school science, social studies, and literature. In 2006, she earned her M.Ed. in school counseling, where she focused on meeting her students’ social, emotional, and academic needs through programs such as support groups, outreach to students and their families, guidance lessons, dropout prevention outreach, implementation of restorative practices, and parenting courses and supports. Furthermore, in 2018, Jeannette earned her M.Ed. in educational leadership and principal certification, which helped her develop skills in leading teams and overseeing curriculum implementation, analyzing data, and implementing academic, behavioral, and social/emotional interventions and supports. Jeannette has also served as a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Facilitator and held numerous leadership positions within Tucson Unified School District. These positions include a Program Coordinator, where she oversaw implementation of curriculum, conducted professional development sessions, mentored novice teachers, and evaluated teacher performance. |
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Richard Orozco, Ph.D. Richard Orozco is an Associate Professor of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies in the College of Education. Prior to arriving at the University of Arizona in 2013, Dr. Orozco served as a faculty member of the College of Education at Oregon State University. He also taught social studies classes for 15 years in a segregated high school in Tucson. He graduated with his Ph.D. in Language, Reading, and Culture from the College of Education in 2009. His research interests include investigations of teachers' equity literacy and the schooling experiences of students of color using critical whiteness studies, critical race theory, and critical discourse analysis. He has published chapters in various edited books and articles in journals including, Critical Studies in Education, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Journal of Education Policy, World Studies in Education, Journal of Latinos and Education, Education Policy Analysis Archives, Multicultural Perspectives, and Whiteness and Education. |
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Austin Ross, M.Ed. As a former high school teacher with nine years of experience, I am thrilled to be a part of the faculty at the University of Arizona. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English from Arizona State University, and I earned my Master's in Education in Curriculum & Instruction from The American College of Education in 2015. In 2020, I graduated again from Arizona State University with a Master's in English. My passion for education and my experience as a teacher have led me to the Humanizing and Culturally Affirming (HCAT) teacher program at the University of Arizona. As a coach, I work with our teachers to develop their teaching skills and help them create inclusive and equitable learning environments. I am dedicated to helping teachers become more effective, culturally responsive educators, and I am honored to be a part of the HCAT program. With nine years of high school teaching experience, Austin Ross brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for education to the University of Arizona. Austin is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, with an emphasis in English, in 2014. In 2015, they earned their Master's of Education in Curriculum & Instruction from The American College of Education. They continued their education at Arizona State University, graduating with a Master's in English in 2020. In 2022, this faculty member joined the Humanizing and Culturally Affirming (HCAT) teacher program at the University of Arizona, where they work as a coach & lecturer for teachers in the program. Through their coaching, they help teachers develop their skills and create inclusive and equitable learning environments. With a dedication to helping teachers become effective, culturally responsive educators, Austin Ross is proud to be a part of the HCAT program. |