Congratulations to Kevin McLeod who on Monday, December 16, 2024, successfully defended his dissertation. The title of Kevin’s dissertation is EXPLORING THE SUPERINTENDENT’S INFLUENCE ON RETAINING TEACHERS OF COLOR IN SUBURBAN K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY.
This qualitative study investigated the role of superintendents in retaining teachers of color within suburban K-12 school districts, where a predominantly white teaching force contrasted with an increasingly diverse student population. While over 56% of the nation’s students identified as Asian, Black, or Latino, the teaching workforce remained approximately 80% white and female (Harris, 2022; Ingersoll, May, & Collins, 2019). This study sought to understand how superintendents influenced the organizational and workplace dynamics affecting whether teachers of color chose to stay or leave the profession. Using a generic qualitative research design, this inquiry examined the perspectives of six superintendents and six teachers of color in their respective suburban New York Metropolitan area school districts to identify factors shaping teacher retention. Grounded in Organizational Culture Theory, this research explored how superintendents’ beliefs, policies, and practices shaped the experiences of teachers of color within these districts. Key emergent themes included lack of belonging and representation, a mismatch between intent and action, and the impact of personal assumptions and beliefs. Findings suggested that while superintendents play a pivotal role in shaping the organizational culture that influences teacher retention, there were significant gaps between their stated DEI intentions and the lived experiences of teachers of color. These insights underscore the critical role superintendents play in both the recruitment and retention of teachers of color. The study concluded with recommendations for superintendents to foster more inclusive and supportive school cultures, bridging intention with effective action to attract and retain a diverse teaching workforce.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Kenneth Mitchell
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Joanne Marien
Dr. Lynn Allen
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