Prospective Black Teacher Agency in Teacher Education Diversity Courses

• In Event: Teaching for Justice

Abstract

Though there is a big push to increase the number of African American teachers, many teacher preparation programs are not structured in ways that productively engage Black teachers.
Against this backdrop, prospective Black teachers possess a strong and deliberate sense of agency and urgency in their desire to learn how to be successful teachers of Black children. The purpose of this presentation is to share preliminary research findings from a qualitative study with five novice Black teachers as they reflect on their teacher education experiences in diversity courses. Using critical race theory and portraiture methodology, findings highlight the nature and manifestations of prospective Black teacher agency.

Author

• Melanie M. Acosta, Florida Atlantic University
  Presenting Author