Black and Latina/o communities face both strained multicultural relationships and negative stereotypes in their communities and schools. This research study explored the importance of examining the lived experiences of Black male teachers (BMTs) in Southern California due to the region's diverse racial and ethnic demographics. It is vital to…

Black women faculty members at institutions of higher education in the United States are rare. By examining the unique experiences Black women faculty members in community colleges endure, this project aims to acknowledge, assess, and affirm the distinctive experiences of this cadre. Its intent is to disseminate the findings and advocate for…

Is the achievement gap real? Using a mixed-methods approach, this study reframed standardized testing through a Quantitative Critical and Black Critical lens. It interrogated the deficit framing of Black student achievement by asking the following questions: (1) To what extent do the aggregated standardized test scores for Black students in…

In a time of growing teacher shortages, Black teachers are rapidly and disproportionately leaving the profession. Drawing upon their interviews with 30 Black teachers in the California Bay Area, Jessica Lee Stovall and Tara R. Sullivan provide insight into what it will take to keep Black teachers in the profession. The interviews depict both the…

This study delved into the recruitment and retention challenges faced by Black male K-12 teachers in California's Central Valley, shedding light on their perceived impact on students. The underrepresentation of Black male teachers, comprising only 2% of the national teacher workforce and less than 1% in California, underscores the urgency of…

The purpose of this research study was to explore the lived experiences of Black teachers who were employed in an urban school district in Southern California. This study focused on teachers who made the decision to remain at their current school in their current teaching position. The findings from this research inquiry can provide district-level…

This study examines why the passing rates of African Americans on the CBEST are the lowest in California at 60%. Madkins (2011) identified licensure testing as a significant reason why African Americans cannot enter the teaching progression. According to Darling-Hammond et al. (2016), California has an ongoing credentialed teacher shortage. An…

Farms and gardens are increasingly being recognized as dynamic educational settings through which learners can engage in a wide variety of activities and practices to connect with land, food, self, and community. Across these settings, teaching with political clarity represents a pathway for identifying, interrogating, and disrupting systems of…

This article focuses on the experiences of 29 African American teachers in K-12 institutions in Southern California. The article reports on the major themes of the participating teachers' shared narratives in light of the theory of racial micro-aggression; their responses include evidence that racial micro-aggression during interactions with…

The teacher workforce does not look much like the adult population or the students they serve. Across the country, only 21% of teachers are from historically disadvantaged racial groups compared to 35% of working-age adults and 49% of students. Simple math suggests that the diversity gap between students and teachers will only close when teachers…

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented uncertainty both within teacher preparation programs and in schools. While it has exacerbated existing and long-standing inequities in California's educational system, the pandemic also presents an opportunity to innovate teacher education programs and rethink how they prepare and sustain candidates of…

As student populations become increasingly diverse, more schools are recognizing the importance of providing safe, engaging, and supportive school environments. As a part of these efforts, national attention has focused on promoting instructional equity and respect for diversity. Although some research has examined students' perceptions of equity…

The increased diversity of students at community colleges makes support and retention of Black women instructional faculty critical. Black women instructional faculty may feel like imposters, receiving messages of inadequacy, despite their achievements. If so, such feelings may impede their ability to serve students and to thrive more generally in…

While existing literature has extensively documented interracial stereotypes faced by Black individuals, this study delved into the lesser-explored realm of stereotypes emanating from within the Black community itself. This dissertation explored the experiences of Black female college students in predominantly white educational environments,…

School districts throughout the country have faced increasing challenges with recruiting and retaining beginning STEM teachers. In 2017, turnover rates for mathematics and science teachers were 90% greater in the top quartile of schools serving students of color than in the bottom quartile. A RAND Corporation 2021 survey found nearly one in four…