From Silos to Synergy: Transforming Teacher Education for Multilingual Equity and Indigenous Integration

TitleFrom Silos to Synergy: Transforming Teacher Education for Multilingual Equity and Indigenous Integration
Faculty/College/UnitEducation
StatusActive
Duration3 Years
Initiation04/01/2026
Project Summary

This timely project will transform how UBC prepares 750 teacher candidates (TCs) annually to support multilingual learning and integrate Indigenous knowledges into subject teaching for grades 6-12. Grounded in community collaboration, the project strengthens partnerships, renews curriculum, and builds lasting capacity for equity-driven education.

In BC, 14% of students are English language learners (ELLs), and another 10% come from multilingual households, including Indigenous and non-official languages. Partnering with districts in the Metro Vancouver ELL Consortium, our team of language, content, and Indigenous education specialists will co-create new B.Ed. course materials, including: (1) short multimedia resources featuring local teachers demonstrating how to teach subject content while supporting ELLs and integrating Indigenous perspectives; (2) an open-access book with discipline-specific strategies for multilingual and decolonial teaching; and (3) a reflective tool that illustrates varied approaches to embedding Indigenous knowledges and supporting multilingualism across disciplines. TCs will participate as co-designers, ensuring practical, impactful outputs.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2026/2027
Year 1: Project TypeLarge TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorKathryn Accurso
Year 1: Funded Amount50,934
Year 1: Team Members

Kathryn Accurso, Associate Professor of Teaching, Language and Literacy Education (LLED), Faculty of Education
Joaquin Muñoz, Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Faculty of Education
Margaret Early, Associate Professor, LLED / Associate Dean, Strategic Programs and Planning, Faculty of Education
Sandra Zappa-Hollman, Associate Professor, LLED / Director, Academic English Program, Vantage College
Jennifer Walsh Marr, Lecturer, Vantage College
Steven Talmy, Associate Professor, LLED, Faculty of Education
Jonathan Ferreira, PhD Candidate / Sessional Instructor, LLED, Faculty of Education
Nikta Razavi, Sessional Instructor / B.Ed. Faculty Advisor, LLED, Faculty of Education
Brittney Townrow, PhD Student / Sessional Instructor, EDCP, Faculty of Education / Head, Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy, West Point Grey Academy
Jessica Bell, Adjunct Teaching Professor, Indigenous Education, EDCP, Faculty of Education / B.Ed. Cohort Coordinator / Indigenous Resource Teacher, Gleneagle Secondary School
Lindsay Yasinski, PhD Student / Sessional Instructor, Educational Studies (EDST), Faculty of Education
Jade LaFontaine, PhD Student, LLED, Faculty of Education
Diamond Point, Ts''kel EdD Student / Sessional Instructor, EDST, Faculty of Education / Indigenous Education Coordinator, West Point Grey Academy
Belinda Daniels, Assistant Professor, University of Victoria
Peter Nelson, Assistant Professor of Teaching, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Sofia Noori, Assistant Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Cynthia Nicol, Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Susan Gerofsky, Associate Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Marie-France Berard, Lecturer, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Jillianne Code, Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Sam Roscoe, Assistant Professor of Teaching, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Kerry Renwick, Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Gunita Gupta, Sessional Instructor, LLED, Faculty of Education
Shawn Forde, Assistant Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Robin Anderson, Sessional Instructor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
Leyton Schnellert, Associate Professor, EDCP, Faculty of Education
May Ng, ELL Head, Richmond Secondary School
Maria Yioldassis, District ELL Coordinator, West Vancouver Schools
Bruce Garnett, District Principal of ELL, Vancouver School Board (VSB)
Ann Hunter, ELL Consultant, VSB
Stacey McEachern, Indigenous Education Curriculum Consultant, VSB
Erin Fields, Open Education and Scholarly Communications Librarian, UBC Library
Cristina Soto Quintero, Curriculum and Evaluation Consultant, LDDI, Faculty of Education