Supporting Teachers of African American Students: Issues of Race and Class

• In Event: Race and Equity Issues in Teaching, Teacher Prepartion, and Educational Experiences

Abstract

As our nation strives to meet the challenges of improving the academic achievement for African American students, researchers are beginning to examine cultural awareness and beliefs of teachers. This paper presentation shares the results of the Cultural Awareness and Beliefs Inventory (CABI) that measured the perceptions of 1873 urban teachers about their African American students related to race and class. The results (quantitative component) and the findings (qualitative component) of the instrument were analyzed and used to create a professional development program for the purpose of improving instruction in an urban, diverse school district. This session will share how the needs assessment survey was developed, and how a professional development program was created to improve instruction for African American learners.

Authors

• Norvella P. Carter, Texas A&M University

• Gwendolyn C. Webb-Hasan, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Victoria Carter, Texas A&M University - College Station