Teaching teachers

Novea McIntosh believes in just as a tool for knowledge but as a bridge to humanity.

 As associate professor of teacher education and co-director of UD’s Urban Teacher Academy, she prepares the next generation of teachers for classrooms as diverse as the communities they serve.

This spring, McIntosh is teaching EDT 340: Educating Diverse Student Populations in Inclusive Settings, a course designed to instruct aspiring teachers about multicultural education and respecting the diversity of their students.

“I tell my students this is the most uncomfortable class you will take,” McIntosh said, noting that her students are predominantly white. “They will unpack their cultural identities to inform how to teach diverse populations of students.” Elements of the course include cultural and racial/ethnic origins, language, identity, economic status and assets students have in classrooms.

In class, McIntosh asks, “Do you know who you’re teaching? Are you self-aware? Are you mindful of how you’re using your power in your classroom to meet the needs of diverse cultures of students?” She listens to the answers and how they shift over the semester as students increase their intercultural competence.

"I tell my students this is the most uncomfortable class you will take. They will unpack their cultural identities to inform how to teach diverse populations of students," she said. 

McIntosh said she wants students to leave her class feeling an appreciation of themselves as future teachers, but also hopes they gain a voice for advocacy.

“[I want them to] go out into classrooms to affirm other people … to walk away feeling, ‘I respect everybody’s human dignity. I want to love other people’s children who I teach because this is my vocation.’”

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A version of this article appears in print in the Spring 2025 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 16. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE