The Impact of an Afrocentric, Culturally Responsive Teacher Pipeline Program on College Student Career Choice  (Poster 25)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 5:25 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Resisting Marginalization: Narratives of Black Student Persistence and Empowerment Across Educational Spaces

Abstract

In the U.S., the public-school student population increasingly consists of students of color, while the teacher workforce remains predominantly white. This study uses participant observation, interviews, and epistemic network analysis to understand the career aspirations of four college students of color in an Afrocentric, culturally responsive teacher pipeline program in summer 2023. We found that students who were already education majors, expressed a greater, more positive attitude toward classroom work, pedagogy and curriculum, and becoming a teacher compared to their non-education declared counterparts who emphasized mentorship and positive relationships in their assessment of the program. To rebuild the teacher pipeline and make the profession appealing, innovative methods must be used to identify and address the specific needs of preservice teachers.

Authors

• Angela Crumdy, University of Pennsylvania

• Ruth V. Akumbu, Independent Researcher