Project SUPPORT

Serving Underrepresented Populations Partnering for Opportunities and Rewards in Teaching

Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Project SUPPORT has transitioned to a remote/virtual delivery of its support services (e.g. teacher pathways advising coaching, scholarship awards, etc.). We will not be offering in-person services until the further notice. However, please continue to check your campus email on a regular basis to stay updated with important information and resources. Additionally, if you would like to schedule an appointment with our Education Career Specialists please contact them at:

• David Espinoza- despinoza@csusm.edu
• Maria Chiem- mchiem@csusm.edu

Project Purpose

Project SUPPORT is a federal grant aimed at increasing the number of Latinx teachers in our Educator Preparation Pathways at CSUSM, thereby eventually increasing the number of Latinx teachers in public K-12 schools in North San Diego County. The program responds to the critical need for diversifying the teacher workforce by supporting talented Latinx students and professionals to pursue teaching careers.

20/21 Project SUPPORT Stats

• Services
  • 312 Students serviced
  • $226,237 Funds for testing provided

  Services Include:

  • Mentoring
  • Adviding on teaching pathways
  • Financial Aid advising
  • General advising sessions to discuss CSUSM credential program requirements
  • Project SUPPORT monetary voucher program for pre-service teacher exams
  • Computer and tablet lending program
• Outreach
  • 80 Presentations
  • 2,224 Students

  Area high schools, community colleges, and CSUSM classrooms learned about CSUSM Credential Programs and resources.

• Future Teacher Academies

  MSTI Girls Summer Academy: 30 Participants

  Prior to the academy, 88% of students were interested in teaching as a career. After the academy 100% of survey respondents agreed that they were more interested in teaching as a career.

  Boys Summer Academy: 18 participants

  Prior to the academy, 17% of students were interested in teaching as a career. After the academy 58% of survey respondents agreed that they were more interested in teaching as a career.

• Accomplishments

  Latinx identifying students in the credential program increased from 36 in 2018 to 74 in 2019. A total increase of 105.5%

  Bilingual candidates more than doubled from 22 in 2018 to 55 in 2019. A total increase of 150%

• Advisor CSUSM Future Educators Association

  Process:

  1. Provide support for co-chairs
  2. Liaison to staff & faculty
  3. Attend club meetings
  4. Recruit & support outreach efforts.
• Community Partnerships

  REPAC: Strong relationships on and off campus.

  Relationships include:

  • San Diego Mesa College
  • Southern California Professional Development Federation
  • Encuentros Leadership
  • Oceanside Unified School District
  • Escondido Union High School District
  • Palomar COllege
  • San Marcos Unified School District
  • San Diego County Office of Education
  • Vista Unified School District
  • Mira Coasta College
• CSUSM Institutional Partnerships

  Partnerships include:

  • CEHHS Credential Analyst department
  • CA Mini COrps
  • Noyce
  • PASO
  • The Alliance
  • Liberal Studies Department
  • CAMP
  • MSTI
  • EOP
  • Latin@ Center
  • Created Cal State Application Guidebook
  • Provided support for Credential Analysts on Cal State Application workshops
  • Provide support for Credential Analysts on Cal State Application workshops
  • Provided support for SOE at the Discover CSUSM, Major/Minor Fairs
  • Outreach with the Latin@ Center, Heritage Month Celebration
  • LAFS Low Rider Event

Goals

• Increase the number of highly qualified Latinx teachers to match the diverse K-12 student population in California.
• Identify and recruit a diverse pool of teacher candidates from local high schools, community colleges, and undergraduate majors at CSUSM
• Offer support to Latinx students in the Teacher Pathways Community through mentoring, academic and credential testing support, and club involvement
• Focus on Latinx student retention in the Teacher Pathway Community

Project SUPPORT Student Resources

Project Support is now accepting application for participation in the program.

Project SUPPORT is a federally funded program aimed at helping Latinx-identifying students who are on the path of becoming K-12 teachers.

The program offers the following services:

• One-to-one meetings with our Education Career Specialists
• Individualized guidance on the CSUSM teacher pathways
• Mentoring and support
• Credential program application assistance
• Join a community of future teachers
• Financial aid advising
• We pay for testing vouchers that students can use for  expenses related to Pre-Service teacher Exams (CSET, CBEST) and Teacher Assessments (RICA and CalTPA).

Important Note: You may only apply for the testing vouchers while you are enrolled as a student at CSUSM, including Extended Learning. You must also attend an advising session prior to receiving a voucher.

Eligibility for Project SUPPORT:

• Self-identify as Latinx
• Intend to be a K-12 teacher (all majors are welcome, but you must identify as a pre-service teacher to be eligible)
• Currently enrolled as a student at CSUSM, including Extended Learning ( enrolled in at least one of the credential program pre-requisites EDU 350, EDU 364, or EDU 422)
• Intend to enroll or currently are a student in a CSUSM teaching credential program
• Attend a required advising session with the Project SUPPORT Education Career Specialist

You must attend an advising session with one of our Education Career Specialists in order to be a Project SUPPORT Student and to receive a testing voucher. Your participation application will remain PENDING until you have completed an advising sessions. (Please email David Espinoza despinoza@csusm.edu or Maria Chiem mchiem@csusm.edu to schedule an appointment).

Project Support is now accepting application for participation in the program. Apply Today!

Project SUPPORT Voucher Award

The Project SUPPORT Voucher Award is for Latinx-identifying students who are on the path of becoming K-12 teachers. This voucher award is intended to support students' expenses related to Pre-Service Teacher Exams (CSET, CBEST) and Teacher Assessments (RICA and CalTPA) for the CSUSM credential program.

Eligibility for Project SUPPORT Voucher Award:

• Be a Project SUPPORT Student
• Self-identify as Latinx
• Must be a CSUSM enrolled student, including Extended Learning.
• Attend required advising session with the Project SUPPORT Education Career Specialist (Please email David Espinoza despinoza@csusm.edu or Pat Stall pstall@csusm.edu to schedule an appointment).
• Good faith effort to take the exam related to the testing voucher within 6 months of receiving the voucher.

The voucher application is now close. We will begin accepting applications for vouchers when the Spring 2022 semester begins!

* Please be advised you are required to schedule an appointment with one of the Education Career Specialists. Your application will remain PENDING until you have completed an advising session. We are available for online appointments Monday-Friday from 8:00am-3:30p.m.

Encuentros Leadership

Project SUPPORT has a partnership with a local non-profit, Encuentros Leadership to host the Encuentros Teacher Academy at CSUSM. The Encuentros Teacher Academy is a residential program, held  on campus so that prospective teacher experience college and interact with professional educators from K-12, as well as the university.

The Encuentros Teacher Academy aims to encourage Latino high school young men to become teachers and help bring diversity to the teaching profession. Currently, only 2% of all teachers identify as Latino men, which is in sharp contrast to the every growing Latino student population in our schools. This academy fosters these young men’s aspirations by having them re-conceptualize what it means to be a teacher. Students learn about the lasting impact a teacher can have in the lives of their students, particularly for their Latino students, and they discover that becoming a teacher is one of the best ways to make positive change in their communities. 

Teacher Academy 2021 (Virtual)

Encuentros Leadership is a nationally recognized, award-winning response to the under-support of Latino males in schools.

Student Participant Info

• 11 males from 6 campuses participated (10th-1st year college)
• 90% had mothers with a High School diploma or less
• 50% reported facing racism at school
• 70% had fathers with a High School diploma or less

Student Participant Takeaways...

• 55% showed more interest in becoming teachers
• 80% strongly agreed to have gained Cultural Pride
• 90% indicated being more confident in their academic abilities
• Average score of 8.1/10 for changing their perception of teaching

Contact Information