Nepantleras Building Bridges toward College Readiness: Latina/o/x Educators Fostering Equity in an Urban High School

Abstract

This article builds on previous studies that establish urban high school contexts that Latina/o/x students likely navigate as under-resourced and deficit. Guided by the frameworks of community-oriented teachers of Color and nepantleras, this study takes an asset-based approach to examine how Latina/o/x educators fostered college aspirations and how they developed college-going structures to support college aspirations of Latina/o/x students. Findings clarify that through self-reflection and collaboration, teachers engaged in college information workshops, college exploration assignments, and supported students with applying to extracurricular internships. The study proposes the concept of community-oriented nepantlera educators who aim to develop a bridge between high school and college for Latina/o/x first-generation college students.

Keywords

• college-going culture
• under-resourced urban high school
• latina/o/x teachers
• nepantleras
• college access