Mentored Teaching Practicum Programs as Career Pathways for Future California Community College Faculty in Los Angeles and Orange Counties
Jessica Gregg, JoAnn S. Roberts, Brit Toven‐Lindsey, Erin Sanders O'Leary, Kayleigh Anderson‐Natale, Andrea Bannigan, Jessica Rae Cristo, Kaitlin L. Ingraham Dixie, Kaeleigh Hayakawa, Marc Levis‐Fitzgerald, Rian Medlin, Sacha Moore, Casey Shapiro, Betina Vallin, Rachel L. KennisonABSTRACT
Teaching practicum programs provide pathways for potential future faculty, such as graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at four‐year universities, to participate in immersive mentorship and professional development experiences at nearby institutions in preparation for a competitive academic job market. These regional initiatives train the next generation of undergraduate instructors and also address an urgent need to hire and retain a diverse, highly trained faculty. This study focuses on a portfolio of mentored teaching practicum programs embedded within the California Community College system in the southern California region, specifically Los Angeles and Orange counties. Using interviews and questionnaires with program leadership and survey data from past participants, this study examines key program features, the benefits and challenges of program implementation, and the impact on program alumni. Findings indicate that these programs share common goals and strategies that lead to participants’ increased interest in and preparation for careers at community colleges.