An Analysis of Motivating Factors for Males of Color as Aspirant Educators at Clark Atlanta University
Location
Issues in Teacher Education (Session 1 Breakouts)
Proposal Track
Research Project
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
There is a significantly low rate of males of color who have selected teaching as a career. The percentage is below 2% of the total population of teachers in the United States. This study was designed to explore the Clark Atlanta University teacher pipeline as an outlier with more than 20% of its enrolled population being males of color. The purpose of the study was to glean generalizable information related to recruitment and retention of males of color to the profession of teaching. A survey was used to investigate motivational factors in three areas: What are the three top reasons to pursue education at CAU?; What are the three top things that your teacher program is doing well?; What are the three top things your teacher program could do better? The data revealed areas that serve to motivate males of color to pursuit the field of teaching: a supportive environment, resources (especially for mandated testing), exposure (including clinical placements), and communication. The second phase of the research will be funded by a grant from Albany State University Center for Educational Opportunity and will seek to implement the identified areas of motivation as a treatment for newly measured outcomes.
Keywords
Teacher pipeline, males of color, teacher preparation
Professional Bio
Felicia Moss Mayfield, Ed.D. is Department Chairman of Curriculum and Instruction at Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Mayfield is a starting her 46th year in education having completed 36 years in P-12, retiring as Associate Superintendent, and having 10 years in higher education. She holds 3 degrees from Georgia State University where she serves as a trustee. Dr. Mayfield completed her doctoral studies at Clark Atlanta University. Her recent publication includes a chapter on the P-20 Collaborative in Thomas (2020) Cases on Strategic Partnerships for Resilient Communities and Schools. Her recent research agenda has to do with increasing the teacher pipeline.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mayfield, Felicia M., "An Analysis of Motivating Factors for Males of Color as Aspirant Educators at Clark Atlanta University" (2020). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 73.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2020/2020/73
An Analysis of Motivating Factors for Males of Color as Aspirant Educators at Clark Atlanta University
Issues in Teacher Education (Session 1 Breakouts)
There is a significantly low rate of males of color who have selected teaching as a career. The percentage is below 2% of the total population of teachers in the United States. This study was designed to explore the Clark Atlanta University teacher pipeline as an outlier with more than 20% of its enrolled population being males of color. The purpose of the study was to glean generalizable information related to recruitment and retention of males of color to the profession of teaching. A survey was used to investigate motivational factors in three areas: What are the three top reasons to pursue education at CAU?; What are the three top things that your teacher program is doing well?; What are the three top things your teacher program could do better? The data revealed areas that serve to motivate males of color to pursuit the field of teaching: a supportive environment, resources (especially for mandated testing), exposure (including clinical placements), and communication. The second phase of the research will be funded by a grant from Albany State University Center for Educational Opportunity and will seek to implement the identified areas of motivation as a treatment for newly measured outcomes.
