“I care about my life and my safety”: Recruiting Black Men Teachers in Rural Illinois

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Fugitive Pedagogies and Black Educational Methodologies

Abstract

Although urban and suburban districts receive more attention in recruitment and retainment research, it must be noted that over half of the school districts in the United States are considered rural. Yet, research on the recruitment and retention of teachers of Color has focused significantly on the experiences and stories of teachers in urban areas, leaving the unique experiences of Black teachers in rural areas often unexplored. This phenomenological study, situated in Central Illinois, seeks to not only understand the experiences of K-16 students of Color in rural areas in Illinois, but also the institutional and structural factors that create pathways and barriers for Black men who want to pursue teaching in rural areas in Illinois.

Authors

• Rachel McMillian, Indiana University - Indianapolis

• Nathaniel Bryan, University of Texas at Austin