Alexandria Estrella Bridges research interests involve literacy development among students from linguistically and culturally diverse communities. She is also highly interested in aspects of policy and classroom practices that impact the experiences of language diverse students. As a clinical associate professor in teacher preparation, she is committed to and leads the Elementary Multilingual Education Program which prepares future Bilingually and English as a Second Language (BLE/ESL) endorsed educators. The trajectory for students who decide to obtain the BLE/ESL endorsement and supporting P-12 programs that intentionally support Emergent Bilinguals and language diverse students is a foundation of her work.
Education
Education
Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Language & Literacy, Arizona State University 2012
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Arizona State University 2004
B.A. Elementary Education, Arizona State University 2002
As an educator in teacher preparation, Dr. Estrella is interested in examining the trajectory for students who decide to enter the Bilingual/English as a Second Language (BLE/ESL) Program. Dr. Estrella is interested in understanding the experiences and understandings that have led these future teachers to select this program.
Guiding Research Questions:
How can we support the literacy and language development of ELLs in an English-Only State?
What can we learn from first-year teachers in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms?
How do scholars of color negotiate linguistic and cultural ties in academic settings?
Current Research Projects:
Dr. Estrella is currently researching the experiences of preservice teachers transitioning from teacher preparation programs to their first-year teaching. This research highlights the experiences of teachers within linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms.
Dr. Estrella is currently researching the experiences of scholars of color in academia. This qualitative research specifically addresses the experiences of scholars, researchers, and professors in teacher preparation. This research also includes the linguistic and cultural ties that scholars of color maintain and negotiate throughout their experiences in academia.
Publications
Silva, A., Flores, T., & Jimenez-Silva, M. (2017). Examining our own language stories and their impact as scholars in bilingual education. Paper under consideration for the American Educational Research, San Antonio, TX.
Flores, T., Roy, B., Jimenez-Silva, M., Silva, A., & Salas, R. (2017). Teaching for Our Lives: Creating Inclusive Spaces for English Learners and their Families in Schools and Universities. Presentation at the Arizona English Teachers Association, Phoenix, AZ.
