“We’re Not in the Caribbean Anymore”: Transnationalism and Afro-Caribbean Female Teacher Pedagogy

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Transnational, Multilingual, and Cross-Cultural (Table 10)

Abstract

Several bodies of literature examine Black female teachers as a monolith, yet few discuss the unique ethnic groups that fall under the umbrella of Blackness. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the pedagogical practices of Afro-Caribbean female teachers in K-12 education. Using transnational theory and black multiplicity as a framework, this study qualitatively employs focus groups to understand the impact of cross-cultural borders on immigrant teachers’ navigation of pedagogy, classroom management, and discipline. Anticipated findings include high regard for home culture in disciplinary practices and difficulty adjusting to U.S. expectations of cultural responsiveness. As Caribbean teacher migration increases, this research has several implications for teacher support programs that support their transition to the United States.

Authors

• Deziree Baker, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Bettie Ray Butler, University of North Carolina - Charlotte