Addressing the Demographic Imperative: A Public Scholarship Project to Recruit and Retain Diverse Teacher Candidates

• In Event: Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding and Promoting Teacher Diversity

Abstract

In this paper, we describe findings of a mixed-methods, public scholarship study that aims to recruit and retain diverse teacher candidates at our university. Our study explored the challenges to diversity that manifest themselves in and around teacher preparation programs on our campus and how to overcome them. As a diverse group of teacher education faculty members from across our university community, we focused on teacher candidates from groups that are historically underrepresented in terms of access to and successful completion of teacher education programs. We argue that early identification of first generation and low-income students, increased student funding, and systemic support of faculty outreach to local schools with underrepresented populations are essential steps in addressing the demographic imperative.

Authors

• Deborah A. Bieler, University of Delaware

• Jill Ewing Flynn, University of Delaware

• Hannah Kim, University of Delaware

• Rosalie Rolon-Dow, University of Delaware

• Carol A. Wong, University of Delaware

• Lynn Worden