“Teacher Image” Twenty Years Later: Representations of Educators Held By Aspiring Teachers from Marginalized Groups

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Identities, Pedagogies, and Practices in the Critical Early Childhood Teacher Workforce (Table 8)

Abstract

Twenty years ago, in his manuscript "Image of the Teacher: Perspectives from Educational Leadership," Parnell (2004, 2010) illuminated how teacher image, influenced by societal pressure, parents, and self-perception, lives in classroom practice and hinders young children's learning experiences. In this qualitative study, we revisit and use Parnell's work as a framework to capture how current teacher image influences aspiring teachers from marginalized groups in one high school early childhood pathway program to think about teaching. We analyze the image of teacher from marginalized groups in popular culture and through the four core lenses set forth by Parnell (2004; 2010). Finally, we report how aspiring teachers from marginalized groups refer to teacher image as they discuss their career choices.

Authors

• Monica Miller Marsh, Kent State University

• Iyanuoluwa Emmanuel Olalowo, Kent State University