"Why Teach?" Barriers and Motivations to Choosing Teaching Careers Among Asian American Preservice Teachers

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Nine
  In Roundtable Session: "Why Teach?" Exploring Teachers' Motivations and Commitments to Teaching in Cross-Cultural Settings (Table 13)

Abstract

Teachers of color are vastly underrepresented in the U.S. K-12 public school teacher workforce. Yet few studies have explored why teachers of color—particularly Asian Americans—decide to become teachers. This qualitative paper examines the barriers, drawbacks, and motivations to join the teaching profession for seven Asian American pre-service teachers in a university-based teacher education program in California. Interviews and surveys revealed that pre-service teachers overcame many sociocultural barriers to becoming teachers, such as social discouragement from family. Intrinsic and altruistic reasons, formative teaching-related experiences, and diversity and inclusion goals motivated them to enter the profession.

Author

• Abigail Holst
  Presenting Author