Leadership for Teacher Racial Diversity: School Leaders' Role in Black Teacher Turnover

• In Event: 77.018 - The Role of Leadership in Supporting Teachers and Improving Climate

Abstract

While students become more racially diverse faculties remain racially stagnant. Black teachers specifically represent an extremely marginal percentage of teachers in the field. Further, they experience the highest turnover rates among all teachers. Despite these alarming statistics Black teachers (specifically Black women teachers) voices have been marginal in the research on teacher turnover. Utilizing a qualitative case study design, this paper considers the impact of school leadership on heightened Black teacher turnover by centering the voices of fifteen Black women teachers. Preliminary findings suggest there are leadership support practices that specifically contribute to the retention of Black women teachers. These include a social justice orientation, recognition of emotional labor and meaningful visibility in the classroom.

Author

• Darrius A. Stanley, Western Carolina University