Abstract
Increasing teacher diversity is beneficial for minimizing the Black and Latinx achievement gap. Educational leaders who have successfully adopted culturally relevant curriculum in their schools and have hired more teachers of color have seen an increase in school connectedness and academic investment from their Black and Latinx students (Knight-Manuel et al., 2016). An increase in the hiring of Black and Latinx teachers has also shown a substantial impact on students’ social and emotional growth (Cholewa & West- Olatunji, 2008).
Statement of the Problem
To minimize the Black and Latinx student achievement gap, educational leaders must purposely increase their hiring practices of Black and Latinx teachers in all schools, but especially schools with large Black and Latinx student populations. This study sought to address and highlight the specific strengths that Black and Latinx teachers possess when teaching students of color and to explore the relationship between increased teacher diversity and educational leadership diversity.
Methodology
This qualitative study implored a phenomenological research approach, as described by Creswell (2007), to focus on the common lived experiences of Black and Latinx educators and the impact race and ethnicity had on their experiences. The study analyzed five Black and or Latinx participants’ responses to 10 structured interview questions. The participants willfully volunteered to participate in the study.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Findings indicate a correlation between Black and Latinx teachers and increased student academic achievement. Findings further indicate that although Black and Latinx teachers have an easier time forming trusting relationships with their Black and Latinx students, other teachers can also increase academic achievement by incorporating culturally sustaining pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 2014; Paris, 2012). The findings of this study should serve as a valuable tool for educational leaders to increase teacher diversity at their school sites and offer all teachers training on best practices for educating Black and Latinx students.