UTSA scholar Belinda Bustos Flores wins bilingual education honor

Belinda Bustos Flores

By Ryan Schoensee
Special Projects Writer, Office of University Communications

(Nov. 21, 2012) -- The Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE), a statewide organization that promotes bicultural and bilingual programs and policies, honored Belinda Bustos Flores with its 2012 Higher Education Award. Flores is a professor and chair of the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development.

The scholar received her award at the TABE national conference in San Antonio.

Flores completed her Ph.D. at the University of Texas in Austin in curriculum and instruction with specializations in multilingual studies and educational psychology. In 2000, she received the first-place award for outstanding dissertation from the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE). In 2004, she earned the UTSA President's Distinguished Award for Research Excellence. She also is a member of the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.

The San Antonio native's research focuses on teacher development including self-concept, ethnic identity, efficacy, beliefs, teacher recruitment and retention, and high-stakes testing. Her work has been cited in top journals such as Handbook of Teacher Education, Journal of Latinos & Education, Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, Multicultural Perspectives and many others.

In 2003, Flores founded the UTSA Academy for Teacher Excellence with a Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education. ATE serves as a hub for school districts, community colleges and UTSA to collaboratively research, design, implement and evaluate educational programs that address emerging, local and statewide educational issues associated with a growing diverse student population. The academy is a critical element of the UTSA College of Education and Human Development teacher education programs and has helped UTSA achieve national recognition as a leader in preparing teachers to teach in culturally diverse settings.

Recently, ATE was named an Example of Excelencia Award finalist in the Undergraduate School category. Excelencia in Education is one of America's top programs in increasing degree completion among Latinos at the associate, bachelor's and graduate degree levels.

TABE promotes equal educational opportunities for bilingual students through research programs and the implementation of policies that increase bilingual learning in Texas schools. Each year, the organization honors outstanding Texans for their devotion to and accomplishments in bilingual education.

This year, Flores was honored with Community Advocate honoree U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas, 29th District) and Public Education honoree Duncan Klussmann, superintendent of the Spring Branch Independent School District.

COEHD is the leading provider of educators in the San Antonio area and one of the largest in Texas. Ranked third in the United States as producer of teacher-education degrees for Hispanics, the college is responsible for innovative research and grants in professional development, technology enhancement, health, school readiness, and bi-national and bicultural issues.