Author Talk: Latina Pedagogies of Care

Part research. Part testimonio. Todo corazón.

Join us for an interactive plática with the authors of the bestselling book Latina Pedagogies of Care. We'll share stories, research, and practical ways to cultivate cariño for ourselves, our communities, and the next generation.

Your ticket price can be applied your book purchase on the night of the event.

Books available in store and at the event.

About the book:

Despite decades of educational reform, many teachers and students still remain under-resourced and underserved-academically, materially, and spiritually. In this important new book, award-winning educators Ale Babino and Rocío Almanza show how teachers can reclaim their humanity in a system that oscillates between toxic positivity and cynical despair with Latina Pedagogies of Care, or teaching with cariño.

Rooted in Latina/Chicana feminist wisdom, this book introduces seven liberatory principles that re-center teaching as an act of communal healing and transformative justice. With stories, dichos, and time-tested strategies, Babino and Almanza invite readers to name the pain of the herida abierta--the open wound of educational harms--and respond with care that re-humanizes and re-tools both students and their teachers. They offer actionable strategies you can try in your own classroom and in community connected to Latines' voices and experiences so often sidelined in educational theory and practice.

Educators, teacher educators, and scholars alike will benefit from this book's tender witness, personal testimony, and pedagogical tools. The authors join readers on their path toward a more wholehearted and honest teaching practice for themselves and the students they serve.

Author Bios:

Alexandra (Ale) Babino, Ph.D., is, first and foremost, a maestra who teaches with cariño
de todo corazón (with all her heart). For two decades, she has worked alongside bilingual students, families, and teachers to nurture bilingual literacies, identities, and agency in schools. An Associate Professor and former Director of the Multilingual and Multicultural Studies (MMS) master’s program at Texas Woman’s University, Ale’s teaching and research have been recognized with over a dozen awards in bilingual and literacy education. One of her proudest accomplishments is the recognition of the MMS program by Excelencia in Education as one of the top three master’s programs in the nation for Latino student success. Her scholarship explores how bilingual children and their teachers develop their biliteracies and identities in complicated educational contexts, particularly within dual language and teacher preparation programs. Across all her roles, Ale remains committed to creating spaces where cariño, literacies, and empowerment flourish together.
Rocío Almanza, Ed.D. is a lifelong maestra devoted to nurturing the brilliance of young children and empowering future educators to do the same. With 25 years of classroom experience, she has taught and led with both corazón and expertise, earning honors such as Teacher of the Year, Apple Corps Educator, District Scholar, and NABE 1st place dissertation of the year award. Rocío’s passion extends beyond her own classroom. She collaborates closely with colleagues and curriculum teams to design meaningful learning experiences and advocate for multilingual learners and their families. As both an early childhood teacher and adjunct professor, she bridges theory and practice, guiding educators to teach with care, equity, and purpose. She lives in North Texas with her husband and son, while her daughter pursues her college education. It is a great honor for her to be mamá and maestra siempre y de corazón.