Emma Hipolito, director of the UCLA Teacher Education Program (TEP) and Darlene Lee, TEP faculty advisor, have been honored with the 2023 Outstanding Journal of Teacher Education Article Award, for their co-authored examination of “Toward a Healthy Racial Climate: Systemically Centering the Well-being of Teacher Candidates of Color.”
UCLA’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) prepares aspiring teachers to become social justice educators in urban settings. We are designed for future educators who want to serve in underserved communities and schools in California, and Los Angeles in particular.
UCLA TEP offers several pathways that culminate in a teaching credential and a master of education degree. We are guided by an anti-racist and social justice agenda in our commitment, partnerships, and coursework.




Who will you be in the UCLA Teacher Education Program?
I want to teach
UCLA Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the News
UCLA Department of Education Ranked First Among Public Colleges and Universities
“This recognition underscores the value of our work in advancing educational scholarship and practice that is grounded in an ethic of care and focused on creating educational opportunity for all citizens, locally and globally.”
Kimi Waite, TEP Alum, Publishes Article About Asian American Studies and Climate Change
Kimi Waite published an article in Ms. magazine stating that climate justice belongs in the classroom—including recognizing and teaching the contributions of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants working toward environmental justice.
LA Times Article About Ethnic Studies Class Features TEP Alum Melina Melgoza
TEP alum, Melina Melgoza, was interviewed for this LA Times article about her high school Ethnic Studies class, which also features the students at Roybal Learning Center.
Salute to Teachers Q&A: Samantha Ayala, TEP Alum
TEP Alum Samantha Ayala of La Honda STEAM Academy in Lompoc is being honored as a Salute to Teachers distinguished new educator. In this Q&A, she discusses her teaching, motivation and supports.
TEP Alum Profile: Mauro Bautista
UCLA TEP alumnus Mauro Bautista serves as Principal for Felicitas & Gonzalo Mendez High School — a community school located in East Los Angeles.