White Teachers, Where Are You Now? New Research on White Teacher Identity: Identifications—Processes—Becoming

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This purpose of this panel session is to present new research on White teacher identity development. Understanding and reviewing previous research on White teachers that represented race-evasive//White ally dichotomies, this panel drives at understanding White teacher identity as process oriented becoming with an emphasis on representing critical multicultural understanding, culturally relevant identities, and critical commitments. Rather than emphasizing the scripts of previous White teacher identity research, this panel session works with new qualitative data, drives at complex representations, focuses on non-linear identity development, and values teachers’ knowledges, yet at the same time, this panel zeroes in on continued contradictions and difficult political work faced by White teachers in diverse classrooms every day.

Sub Unit

• Division G - Social Context of Education / Section 2: Education in Multicultural Contexts Within and Across Subject Areas

Chair

• Timothy J. Lensmire, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Papers

• Conceptualizing White Teachers’ Vacillating Criticalities: The Importance of Liminality - Anthony Miele

• Developing Teachers’ Professional Identities Working Through Identification Complexity Toward Authentic Recognitions - Ann Mogush Mason, University of Wisconsin - River Falls

• Black Mentors on White Teachers: Interrogating Whiteness, Growing, and Becoming White Teachers - Michael L. Boucher, Texas A&M University - San Antonio

• A Comprehensive Review of Literatures on White Teacher Identities: From Race-Resistant to Race-Visible - Timothy J. Lensmire, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities; James C. Jupp, Georgia Southern University; Anthony Miele

Discussant

• James Joseph "Jim" Scheurich, Indiana University - Indianapolis