Santa Clara University Hosts First Annual Latino Education Summit
First Annual Latino Summit to address specific needs of community
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 27, 2016— Santa Clara University hosts the first annual Latino Education Summit on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Foundation for Hispanic Education’s Center for Latino Education and Innovation and Santa Clara University’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling Psychology have partnered with several Silicon Valley school districts to present the first annual Latino Education Summit: Silicon Valley.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Foundation for Hispanic Education to make this summit possible,” said Carol Ann Gittens, Interim Dean of the School of Education and Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University. “It is a tremendous opportunity for K-12 and higher education professionals, business representatives, and community leaders to join in conversation about how to best serve the educational needs of Latino students, their families, and the local community.”
The First Annual Latino Education Summit aims to identify and discuss transformative approaches for educating Latino students of low-income families in Silicon Valley, who often underperform due to lack of educational and socioeconomic opportunities in the region. Academics from regional higher education institutions and local educational practitioners will discuss critical educational issues impacting Latino students, parents, and the community at large.
SCU’s School of Education and Counseling Psychology is focusing on the specific needs of Latino students and have strategically and actively recruited Hispanic students to be a part of its teacher education program. Increasing the diversity of teachers who serve in Latino communities improves the cultural connectivity with the students they’re trying to serve and promotes cultural competency.
“This event represents a unique collaboration amongst K-12 schools and Santa Clara University, as it presents the opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue on how we can better serve the needs of the most worthy," said Ed Alvarez, President of The Foundation for Hispanic Education.
Presenters will share research, evidenced-based best practices, and other educational innovations that have been shown to promote the success of Latinos, particularly for English language learners from low-income communities. The summit will consist of nationally recognized keynote speakers, breakout sessions led by subject experts, a community-focused resource fair, and social media classes for students. Sessions include talks on alleviating the teacher shortage, early childhood education, parent empowerment, and more.
After the summit’s official closing session, speaker and writer Rick Najera hosts “Addressing the Latino Education Crisis” at 2:30 p.m. at Santa Clara University’s Louis B. Mayer Theater as part of his Latino Thought Makers Speaker Series. Featuring actor/director/social activist Edward James Olmos, one of the most prominent Latinos in Hollywood, Latino Thought Makers is a groundbreaking, live series developed to engage, entertain, and educate audiences. This event is sponsored by Santa Clara University’s College of Arts and Sciences, Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, Leavey School of Business, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, School of Engineering, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Undergraduate Admissions Office, and SCU Presents.
About The Foundation for Hispanic Education
The Center for Latino Education & Innovation (CLEI) was established in 2014, under the auspices of The Foundation and through a strong alliance of public and private partners, serves as the educational architect for building an effective pre-K to college "pipeline" for Latino students and their parents. The Mission of the parent organization, The Foundation for Hispanic Education is to provide leadership in the education of English Language Learners and the development of specialized training programs for teachers of English Language Learners. More info at www.tfhe.org.
About the School of Education and Counseling Psychology
Serving more than 700 students, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology offers master’s degree and credential programs to prepare professional counselors and K-12 educators and administrators. It educates practitioners whose professional competence, social conscience, and human compassion will transform lives, schools, and communities for the greater health, well-being, and the common good of all. For more information, see www.scu.edu/ecp
About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, theology, and engineering, plus master’s and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.
Media Contact
Tina Vossugh| tvossugh@scu.edu | (408) 829-4836.