Culturally Competent and Socio-politically Conscious Teaching: A Teacher Educator Works to Model the Journey to Critical Cultural Competence

The purpose of this article is to present the self-study of a teacher educator who is concerned about cultural competence, socio-political consciousness, social justice, and peace in her preparation of teacher candidates. She recounts her experiences at the European Peace Institute (EPU) in Stadtschlaining, Austria, and how experiences with these students impact her perspective on teacher education in the United States. Sharing the voices from students at EPU provides a means of consciousness-raising for the teacher educator. She provides examples of ways to bring a more culturally competent and socio-political awareness to teacher education programs in the United States.