Gilberto Lara

Gilberto Lara, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bilingual and Bicultural Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Education and Human Development. With over 16 years of experience in dual-language and ESL education, his work bridges pedagogy, cultural equity, and literacy development for emergent bilinguals.

• Education: Ph.D. in Bilingual/Bicultural Education (UT Austin), M.Ed. and B.S. in Education (Boise State University) with concentrations in Bilingual Education and ESL Methods.

Research Focus: Investigates pedagogical practices in dual-language/EL classrooms, emphasizing community cultural wealth and multicultural children's literature. His studies address raciolinguistic ideologies, teacher identity, and equity in education for marginalized communities.

Article Trends: Recent publications analyze translanguaging in family contexts, post-pandemic pedagogical shifts, and systemic barriers in bilingual education. He integrates STEM and biliteracy, while critiquing children's literature for cultural relevance and social justice themes.

Scientific Awards

• 2017 STAR Fellow, Literacy Research Association
• 2016 Second Place Outstanding Dissertation Award, National Association of Bilingual Association

Grants & Collaborations: Though not explicitly listed, his work on equity and teacher education implies participation in federally funded initiatives. His book, The Reading Turn-Around with Emergent Bilinguals, codifies years of classroom and research experience.