The Barriers, Motivation, Lived Experiences, and Recruitment and Retention of African-American Males in K-12 Education: A Comparative Case Study Analysis

摘要

The minority teacher shortage exists in all schools and 40% of public schools have no teachers of color. Even the high-poverty and urban schools, which employ a higher number of minority teachers, are still staffed with predominantly Caucasian female teachers. The purpose of this comparative case study analysis was to see how barriers, motivation, recruitment and retention, and lived experiences of African-American males affect their presence in K-12 education.;This qualitative research study revealed that low pay and other career choices are barriers for African-American males who wish to enter K-12 education. Intrinsic motivation which includes the desire to be role models and the desire to help others were found to be motivators for African-American males who sought to be in K-12 education. Recruiting organizations, such as Call Me Mister, are in existence to help attract more African-American males into K-12 education. The lived experiences of African-American male teachers revealed that African-American males were absent yet needed in K-12 education and they suggested that, by improving the recruiting process and offering financial incentives, more African-American males would enter K-12 education.;The theoretical framework that drove this research was Critical Race Theory which is a theory that examines how race, racism, and power functions in the school systems. With reasons why there are not more African-American male teachers ranging from negative K-12 experiences to high dropout rates, educational organizations need to have a more holistic approach to improving the presence of African-American males in K-12 education.;The conclusion drawn from this study is that the districts are failing to obtain qualified African-American male teachers. Furthermore, the school systems are going to need to change the current culture of education and they are going to need to change their recruiting efforts if they want to attract more African-American males to enter K-12 education.