A Student Like Me: Teacher-Student Racial Matching and Black Teachers' Occupational Well-Being in Texas

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: Black Voices, Discrimination, and Racial Matching (Table 17)

Abstract

Racial disparities persist between Black and White student populations in the United States. Research suggests that racial match between teachers/students can have an ameliorative effect on these educational disparities. Little is known about the association between teacher-student racial matching and Black teachers' stress and wellbeing. To address this gap, we examined associations between demographic and student equity factors and occupational wellbeing for Black secondary teachers in Texas. Interactions between teacher-student racial matching, teacher-teacher racial matching, and inequity in Black students' mathematics achievement predicted Black teachers' job satisfaction and risk for occupational stress. Thus, strategies to increase teacher diversity may support educational equity, but these strategies must be implemented in tandem with initiatives to increase teachers’ access to culturally relevant resources.

Authors

• Jendayi B. Dillard, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Caroline Hudson Weppner, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Christopher J. McCarthy, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Paul G. Fitchett, Auburn University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Trisha Miller
  Non-Presenting Author