Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the impact of the implementation of the Puente Project on high school Puente teachers. Based on the literature, the specific focus was on the impact related to five specific areas: writing instruction, teacher leadership, teacher-student relationships, parental involvement, and college readiness and preparation.Methodology. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to effectively capture the lived experiences of high school Puente teachers. Ten high school Puente teachers were interviewed for the study. Participants were chosen based on certain criteria and recommendations from the Puente state office. The researcher conducted one-on-one, semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of the Puente teachers.Findings. The findings showed the Puente Project impacted all five areas examined. The five themes were explained and supported by statements gathered from the interviews. The areas of highest impact were teacher growth, writing instruction, and teacher-student relationships.Conclusions. The study revealed all participants felt an impact, mostly positive, when implementing the Puente Project. The data revealed being part of the Puente Project took time due to the additional responsibilities, but the supportive and cohesive team that developed helped support teachers and outweighed the workload. The life-long relationships Puente teachers developed with their students had a significant, positive impact overall.Recommendations. Future studies regarding the impact of the Puente Project could include middle school teachers to show their experiences with the implementation of the program. Interviewing Puente Program team members at high school sites could provide more insight and different perspectives on each person's role and responsibilities. A study on the impact of the implementation of the Puente Program on counselors could provide more insight on their experiences. Interviewing principals about the Puente Project could provide insight on school reform and support programs.