Student-Teacher Relationships: The Foundation for Bridging the Demographic Mismatch in Urban Schools

• In Event: 63.086 - Sheraton Roundtable 11 - Osgoode Ballroom
  In Roundtable Session: 63.086-4 - Teachers and Their Students: Considering Demographic Mismatches

Abstract

The demographic mismatch of teachers and students in many urban classrooms puts students of color at a disadvantage. The current study examines Growth Through Connections, a program of teacher training and coaching that focuses on improving student-teacher relationships, specifically in classrooms where the student body consists primarily of students of color being led by a white teacher. Seventeen educators (5 male, 12 female) participated in training and data collection. After participating in the program, teachers showed growth in the way they were thinking about their relationships with students and expanded repertoires of how to build authentic relationships with their students. Students whose teachers participated demonstrated improvements in behavior, work quality, engagement, and enjoyment at school.

Authors

• Molly Baird, Denver Public Schools

• Signe Hawley, Denver Public Schools

• Susan B. Trickett, Denver Public Schools