reza-lopez vita

Elva Reza- López. Ph. D.

EDUCATION:

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Doctor of Philosophy, 2006

Areas of Specialization: Multicultural/Bilingual Literacy Education, English as a Second Language, Sheltered English.

Reza- López, E. (2006). A Critical Case Study of High School Academic English in the U.S.-Mexican Border: Towards a Pedagogy of Human Dignity. Unpublished Dissertation. New Mexico State University.

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Administrative Licensure, 1999

University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, Texas

Masters of Art in Education, 1996

Instructional Specialists with emphasis in Bilingual Math & Science

University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, Texas

Bachelor of Arts Degree, 1972

Sociology

Classes Taught:

Undergraduate Courses:

BED 3345 Biliteracy Development (University of Texas at El Paso)

BED 4340 Foundations of Dual Language Instruction (University of Texas at El Paso)

TED 3330 Multicultural Education and Applied Critical Pedagogy (University of Texas at El Paso)

EDUC 361 Elem. School Literacy II (New Mexico State University)

EMD 250 Introduction to Education (New Mexico State University)

Graduate Courses: Masters

BED 5343 Sheltered English Instruction (University of Texas at El Paso)

EDUC 530 Socio-Psycholinguistic of Reading (New Mexico State University)

EDUC 561 Elem. School Literacy II (New Mexico State University)

PAST WORK EXPERIENCE

Literacy, Biliteracy Instructor 2006-2008 New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM

Areas of Specialization: TESOL,Biliteracy Development, Reading Recovery Teacher/ Descubriendo la lectura, Language Arts-Reading auxiliary teacher

Higher Education Adjunct Instructor

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) El Paso, Texas, 2003-2006 Taught a foundation course on principles of bilingual education to monolingual and bilingual pre-service teachers. Coursework emphasized historical, political and legal aspects of bilingual education that connected to the U.S.-Mexico border, as well, models, and approaches for secondary language acquisition. Also taught biliteracy and English language development to Elementary and secondary alternative teachers seeking TESOL Certification.

Grant Project Director/Middle School Teacher/ Grant Writer

Supporting Innovative Leaders in Today’s School (SILTS) Director, 2002-2003 New Mexico State University (NMSU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. Managed a grant that provided bilingual teachers with opportunity to acquire an administrative licensure and a Masters in Education Degree. This grant was in collaboration with Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), Kansas State University (KSU), and New Mexico State University (NMSU).

Roosevelt School, El Paso, Texas, 1993-1999

Taught gifted and talented bilingual students. Instruction was content-based. Team member of grant writing curriculum“E=MC2” (Everyone is master of creativity double)—a multi-age, summer, curriculum designed for bilingual gifted and talented students. Grant recipient of “Let Them Talk” a technology grant designed for second-language learners to receive a video camera and a VCR for classroom instruction.

Multiage-Bilingual Teacher

Glen Cove Elementary School, El Paso, Texas, 1988-1993 Taught multiage 5^th and 6^th grade bilingual students.

Elementary Teacher

Hawkins, Elementary School, El Paso, Texas, 1987-1988: taught a “mixed” class of bilingual and monolingual students. Developed and adapted curriculum to address both populations.

Stanton Elementary, El Paso, Texas, 1987-1988: First and second grade bilingual classroom teacher. Taught a transitional bilingual program to bilingual and recent immigrant students.

Clardy Elementary, El Paso, Texas, 1974-1977: Second grade bilingual classroom teacher, Taught second grade transitional bilingual program. School was selected as a model Bilingual school for the state of Texas.

Teacher Leader

El Paso Independent School District, El Paso, Texas, 1977-1978: Teacher-leader and Parent-leader for kinder and first grade teachers of a specific campus. Held various parent meetings to research links that related to school achievement and aligned with school culture.

Adult ESL Instructor

Bilingual Institute, Private Organization, El Paso, Texas, 1973: Taught adults English using the Audio-lingual Approach.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Dissertation Thesis

A Critical Case Study of High School Academic English in the U.S.-Mexican Border: Towards a Pedagogy of Human Dignity.

This study addressed how a high school content teacher in a U.S.-borderland and yhree of his Limited English language learners referred as to as “lifers,” perceived the teaching and learning of academic English in this age of accountability. In this instrumental case study, in-depth interviews, video-elicitations, interactive journals and field-notes were used. A pedagogical unit of analysis that views teaching and learning as a reciprocal process was used to analyze data. The Critical Race, Critical Latino/a lens further guided the interpretation and discussion of the data. Findings, at the micro-level, revealed incongruence in how the teacher and his students perceive best ways to teach and learn academic English. At the macro-level structural programs such as transitional and English immersion programs, referred to as quasi-bilingual programs in this study, seemed inappropriate for these English language learners. These programs provided limited time for academic and cognitive development in students’ Native Language. Two-way immersion programs seemed the most suitable. High-stake testing such as The Texas Assessments of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) narrowed the curriculum and limited rich, creative opportunities in teaching and learning.

PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Huerta, Luis, Mercado, Maria, Reza-López, Elva & Gracia, Flor (in press). El discurso de la educación bilingüe en la frontera México-Estados Unidos: formación de identidades, relaciones de poder y opresión. Noesis (2007).

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Sept. 2007: International Conference on Education, Labor, and Emancipation: Cd. Juárez, México. Título: El Diálogo: Base para Construir una Pedagogía Fronteriza

Jan. 2008: National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE): San Jose, California. Título: El Diálogo: Base para Construir una Pedagogía Fronteriza

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

Sept. 2007: International Conference on Education, Labor, and Emancipation

Oct. 2007: Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE)

Jan. 2008: National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)

Honors /Professional Recognition

2007 Outstanding “BEEMER” Award (UTEP)

2006 President of the Association for Bilingual Teachers (SWABE)

2004 President-elect of the Southwest Association for Bilingual Teachers (SWABE)

2003 Member of Editorial Board for the NMACD Newsletter

2002 Editor of NMASCD Newsletter

2000 Vice-President for Texas Teachers of Other Languages TEXTESOL Region I

2000 Historian for the Southwest Association for Bilingual Teachers (SWABE)