Centering the Perspectives of Candidates of Color Toward African American Pedagogical Excellence

• In Event: Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting Black Teachers

Abstract

African American Pedagogical Excellence (AAPE), a conceptual framework consisting of the ideology, beliefs, and instructional practices grounded in African American epistemology (Acosta, Foster, & Houchen, 2019), centers the consciousness of African American teachers. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to explore the culture-centered knowledge and perspectives of African American candidates. Using AAPE along with theories from student affairs and advising, we consider how teacher preparation programs may better support candidates. Findings consider how candidates' ideologies and beliefs can be validated or invalidated within programs as well as across their larger institutions. We acknowledge that change must occur within and across these systems to truly validate Candidates of Color; AAPE is a useful tool to drive that change.

Authors

• Mary Shelley Thomas, University of Louisville

• Bianca J Nightengale-Lee, Florida Atlantic University

• Dwayne Compton, University of Louisville

• Brandon Joseph, University of Louisville

• Stefanie Wooten Burnett, University of Louisville