The time that K-12 students spend with teachers is formative. It’s important. Some might say that a teacher can make or break a kid, especially kids from marginalized communities. There are systems in place to educate and evaluate teachers on best practices in the classroom—but are we doing enough to make sure teacher training is equitable and culturally sensitive?  

On this episode on RadioEd, Emma speaks with María del Carmen Salazar, associate dean of the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education, about her work with culturally responsive teacher evaluation.  

María del Carmen Salazar is associate dean for faculty affairs and DEIJ as well as a professor of curriculum & instruction and teacher education in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. Salazar has authored 38 publications and given 155 scholarly local, national, and international presentations on a humanizing pedagogy, equitable teaching and culturally responsive teacher evaluation, and college access and success for Latinx youth. She is the author of “Teacher Evaluation as Culture: A Framework for Equitable and Excellent Teaching.”