Teacher and Principal Racial Match: Teacher Satisfaction and Turnover in Public Elementary Schools

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Accounting for Race in Teacher Preparation and Retention

Abstract

Past research has shown that a racial match between teachers and their students matters for both teacher satisfaction and evaluations of student behavior. However, comparatively little is known about the effects of a racial match between teachers and their principal. This paper examines this racial match as one possible mechanism of teacher satisfaction in public elementary schools. Results show that a racial match between black teachers and black principals significantly improves teacher satisfaction independent of teacher and school level characteristics. Given recent efforts to increase retention of teachers of color, this finding has important implications for further study into how schools can better support beginning teachers of color and address implicit bias in teacher/ principal relationships.

Author

• Patrick Graff, University of Notre Dame