Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Black Students in Secondary Schools: Understanding Teacher’s Culturally Sustaining Pedagogical Practices

<p>Given that Black students have historically topped the charts for school suspensions and incarceration rates, unpacking how the classroom structure plays a part in this epidemic can help improve the school system as well as societal outcomes for other historically marginalized students. This study sought to identify what teachers believe (through their conceptions and philosophies) and what teachers enact in the classroom (through their visible teaching practices) that foster a successful learning environment for all students, and Black students in particular. Framed by Hammond’s (2015) Ready for Rigor framework, in this qualitative study, I interviewed and observed 15 high school teachers—those who self-identified with being committed to the success of Black students—about their conceptions about teaching, their teaching practices, and their disciplinary practices. After analyzing data from initial interviews, two observations, and a final interview with every participant, six themes emerged: (a) Serving a Bigger Calling, (b) Personal Professionals in the Village, (c) Race Ready, (d) Student Voice or Identity, (e) Second Home or Home Is Where the Heart Is, and (f) Flipping the Script. Together, these six themes captured teachers’ philosophies, conceptions, and teaching practices consistent with culturally sustaining practices. This study offers implications for policy, practice, and research as educators aim to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline in every classroom.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Education, PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Restricted to Claremont Colleges Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

School of Educational Studies

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Camani

Contributors dc:contributor

• Emilie Reagan
• Frances Gipson
• Darneika Watson

• Black Students
• Culturally Relevant
• Culturally Responsive
• Culturally Sustaining
• School to prison pipeline
• Successful educators of successful black students
• African American Studies
• Education
• Race and Ethnicity

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/801

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-1823