The MAT’s Bilingual Authorization Program graduates its inaugural class
The first and largest cohort of the program celebrate their achievement with the School of Education’s bilingual community.
There was a festive celebration amongst the UCI School of Education’s bilingual community this month as the Bilingual Authorization Program (BAP) rang in its inaugural year with the graduation of its first class and largest cohort. Among the graduates, candidates Alondra Perez and Miriam Candelario Sandoval were awarded the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Teachership, and 10 candidates have secured teaching positions.
“We are so proud to be celebrating the inaugural year of our official bilingual program and our first cohort,” said Virginia Panish, director of the MAT program.
“We are so proud to be celebrating the inaugural year of our official bilingual program and our first cohort,” said Virginia Panish, director of the MAT program.
The BAP, offered through the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) + Credential Program, allows candidates to add a Bilingual Authorization to their Multiple Subject Credential, equipping MAT students to successfully teach in dual immersion programs.
Through the bilingual education minor, offered in the UCI School of Humanities Department of Spanish and Portuguese, undergraduates also have a pathway into the MAT BAP through which they are prepared for a future career in bilingual education and for what it takes to be a bilingual teacher.
The School of Education has made a tremendous impact in providing qualified bilingual teachers to our local dual language immersion schools – including at our partner schools like Gates Elementary in Lake Forest, which now has 10 of our bilingual alumni working as bilingual teachers at their award-winning dual language immersion Spanish school,” said Susan Guilfoyle, School of Education lecturer bilingual authorization coordinator for the MAT program.
MAT program director Panish cites the BAP was made possible in part by Guilfoyle’s leading work in advocating for bilingual education through her work with student teachers, dual immersion schools, the bilingual education community and UCI faculty.
“A great example of Susan’s efforts to build a supportive network is the Bilingual Alumni Mentorship Program, which enables student teachers to visit alumni mentors’ classrooms and seek advice from them about teaching in dual immersion programs,” Panish added.
With more than half of Orange County’s school districts offering dual immersion programs in their schools, the BAP was created in the summer of 2021 to address the needs in Orange County and California for dual language teachers. More than 100 bilingual candidates have graduated from the MAT program in the last two decades.
Currently, UCI partners with dual immersion schools in the Anaheim Elementary School District, Capistrano Unified School District, Garden Grove Unified School District, Magnolia School District, Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, and Santa Ana Unified School District.
Learn more about the Bilingual Authorization Program.
View photo album.
Through the bilingual education minor, offered in the UCI School of Humanities Department of Spanish and Portuguese, undergraduates also have a pathway into the MAT BAP through which they are prepared for a future career in bilingual education and for what it takes to be a bilingual teacher.
The School of Education has made a tremendous impact in providing qualified bilingual teachers to our local dual language immersion schools – including at our partner schools like Gates Elementary in Lake Forest, which now has 10 of our bilingual alumni working as bilingual teachers at their award-winning dual language immersion Spanish school,” said Susan Guilfoyle, School of Education lecturer bilingual authorization coordinator for the MAT program.
MAT program director Panish cites the BAP was made possible in part by Guilfoyle’s leading work in advocating for bilingual education through her work with student teachers, dual immersion schools, the bilingual education community and UCI faculty.
“A great example of Susan’s efforts to build a supportive network is the Bilingual Alumni Mentorship Program, which enables student teachers to visit alumni mentors’ classrooms and seek advice from them about teaching in dual immersion programs,” Panish added.
With more than half of Orange County’s school districts offering dual immersion programs in their schools, the BAP was created in the summer of 2021 to address the needs in Orange County and California for dual language teachers. More than 100 bilingual candidates have graduated from the MAT program in the last two decades.
Currently, UCI partners with dual immersion schools in the Anaheim Elementary School District, Capistrano Unified School District, Garden Grove Unified School District, Magnolia School District, Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, and Santa Ana Unified School District.
Learn more about the Bilingual Authorization Program.
View photo album.
