Resources Available Online

The Race Connection

This article explores how a teacher's race can affect students within their learning environment. Using data from a randomized field trial conducted in Tennessee, the researchers produced troubling results: Black students learn more from black teachers and white students from white teachers. These results suggest that the racial dynamics within classrooms may contribute to the persistent racial gap in student performance. (2004)
Author: Dee, T. S.
Education Next, 4(2), 53–59
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The Segregation of American Teachers

In this report, researchers examined survey data of 1,000 K–12 public school teachers nationwide to demonstrate that America’s teaching force is greatly segregated. According to the author’s research, the typical African American teacher is most likely to be assigned to low-income schools that fail to meet federal standards. On the other hand, average white teachers are disproportionately placed in higher-achieving, more affluent schools. Average Latino and Asian teachers are more likely to be placed in schools that have twice the population of English language learners. This is the first report based on the national teachers’ survey. Future issues will explore working conditions, teacher attitudes regarding diversity, and factors that help teachers succeed in diverse schools. (The Civil Rights Project, Harvard University 2006)
Author: Frankenberg, E.
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Additional Resources

Black Teachers, Black Students, Black Communities, and Brown: Perspectives and Insights from Experts

The authors of this study interviewed expert researchers in order to examine the impact of the Brown v. Board of Education decision on Black teachers, Black students, and Black communities. Findings point to Black-teacher demotion and Black-teacher voicelessness as two of the consequences of the Brown decision for Black teachers. (2004)
Authors: Milner, H. R., Howard, T. C.
The Journal of Negro Education, 73(3), 285–297

Getting More Men and Blacks into Teaching

The author discusses the shortage of male and African American teachers and describes various efforts to diversify the American Teaching Force. Among others, the Call Me MISTER program (Men Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) seeks to recruit, train, certify, and secure employment for 200 black males as elementary teachers in South Carolina's public schools. (2006)
Author: Chmelynski, C.
Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed for Quick Review, 71(5), 40–42