Back to search

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

What Exactly Does Identity Have to do with Teaching? Exploring the Connection Between a Teacher's Racialized Identity and their Teacher Identity

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This study explores the relationship between race and teacher identity, specifically understanding how the two concepts intersect and (re)present themselves within the classroom environment. This study analyzes six teachers’ narratives of identity, race, and teaching to explore themes of race and identity as they traverse from their earliest experiences with race into their experiences as teachers. Findings conclude that, first, teachers’ narrative identities are a composite of key narratives—important moments of deep impact in the process of identity building—that accumulate over time to form what Dan McAdams (1993) calls personal myths. Since key narratives are continually shaping one’s personal myth, then one’s personal myth is constantly undergoing changes and revisions. Second, teachers’ key narratives about race are reflected in their narratives about who they are and how they teach. The final and most important finding is that teachers play a crucial role in developing their students’ personal myths and therefore, have an ethical responsibility to do so with the utmost care and consideration.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
Doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Urban Education
Grantor
The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York
Year dc:date.available
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Aguilar, Lizette
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Sherry Deckman
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Jen Collett
  • Rosa Rivera-McCutchen

Subjects

dc:subject × 14

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5884
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-6892

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
City University of New York - Graduate Center
Base URL
academicworks.cuny.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Aguilar, Lizette. What Exactly Does Identity Have to do with Teaching? Exploring the Connection Between a Teacher's Racialized Identity and their Teacher Identity. Doctoral thesis, The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York, 2024. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5884