Showcase for future teachers highlights the transformative possibilities of shared governance
On April 29, a large group of eager San Diego State University teaching credential candidates descended on Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista, California, with resumes in hand.
A group of Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) leaders was there to greet them. And they proved to be no less eager.
They were all there for “A Sweetwater Showcase: Teach Here, Thrive Here,” an event held jointly between the SDSU College of Education’s three teaching credentialing programs and the district. Mission Federal Credit Union and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union sponsored the showcase.
More than 40 candidates from the School of Teacher Education, Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education and Department of Special Educators attended, rubbing elbows with principals and the human resources leaders. The idea was twofold: Help SDSU’s future teachers get a leg up in their job searches while helping SUHSD make their pitch to the best and brightest about why the South Bay district might be an ideal fit.
“I've been at SDSU for 26 years, and this is the first time that this has happened,” said Laura Craig, School Partnership Coordinator in the College of Education. “It was really a great space and use of time. I think that this will be the first inaugural showcase.”
The Sweetwater Showcase kicked off with a breakfast conversation where principals and HR staff spread out across the room to discuss the benefits of working in SUHD. They explained the district’s vision, culture and the community it serves. That was followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with new teachers in the district, tours of Otay Ranch High and finally mock interviews with principals.
“It was great practice for the candidates,” Craig said. “They told me that while it was intimidating to answer questions in front of their peers, it was really helpful to hear what types of questions principals are going to be asking in interviews and practice their answers. They realized that it was a safe space to do so.
“Principals really were looking for candidates at the same time.”
SDSU alumna Maribel Gavin (’96 English, ’97 bilingual credential, ’02 policy studies master’s, ’20 educational leadership Ed.D), who now serves as assistant superintendent for human resources at SUHSD, came away equally enthusiastic.
“There was a sense of excitement knowing that our work together will continue to flourish in years to come,” Gavin said. “Our work is intended to help grow future teachers who understand the instructional strategies and student-centered approach that will ultimately improve student outcomes.”
Shared governance
According to Craig, the event was made possible thanks to a strong foundation of trust and common purpose cultivated between SDSU and SUHSD through shared governance meetings that have been taking place over the past year. She lauded site coordinators and lecturers Kristin Gibson and Lupe Buell for their work in driving the partnership forward.
“We just started governance and met four times this year,” Craig said. “For this to be the capstone event that came out of that work is pretty phenomenal.”
A strategy SDSU has embarked on with seven major partners across the county, shared governance is meant to align goals, processes and partnerships around areas of mutual interest. At each of the meetings, leadership from College and district partners share updates, discuss opportunities and tour classrooms where candidates are placed to ensure effective co-teaching is taking place.
Other partners in shared governance include San Diego Unified, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Chula Vista and Cajon Valley. Craig said she is eager to bring more local districts into the fold in the near future.
“Immersive events like this showcase happen when you are developing relationships with people,” Craig explained. “They happen when you build trust, build procedures and communicate on a regular basis."
