Examining motivations of Black males to become elementary school educators
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Adam Dovico (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Kathy Hytten
Abstract: There are very few Black male educators who work in the elementary setting. In fact, most Americans will never experience having a Black male as a teacher during those formative years. Existing research around Black male educators heavily revolves around why Black men do not become educators, but there is little research on the motivations for why they do. If the desire is to grow the number of Black male teachers in the early years of schooling, it is important to understand ways in which Black males may be encouraged to join the profession. Through this study I aim to develop this understanding by presenting the lived experiences of three Black male elementary school educators. Using the methodology of portraiture, I show that Black men not only have the capacity and desire to teach, but possess the ability to positively impact children across demographics and school settings. While there is no single-defining feature that describes the type of Black man who teaches elementary school, there are common experiences and stereotypes that yield tropes of the Black male elementary educator. This study reveals Black males are often viewed as disciplinarians or role models, particularly for Black boys, but also sometimes accept these roles, affirming the labels. The research also shows that Black males excel in spaces where they are provided support and freedom to leverage their passion and talents. I conclude with recommendations for colleges and universities, school districts, and policy makers to aid in the changes that need to occur to help better recruit and retain Black male elementary teachers.
Examining motivations of Black males to become elementary school educators
PDF (Portable Document Format)
756 KB
Created on 5/1/2023
Views: 140
Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2023
- Keywords
- Black male, Critical Race Theory, Elementary educator, Elementary teacher, Portraiture, Teacher
- Subjects
- Male elementary school teachers $z United States
- Teachers, Black $z United States