Asian American Teachers in Predominantly White Education Systems

Abstract

In the current teacher retention crisis across the nation, Asian American teachers face an additional set of challenges around racism and stereotypes. This study explored how four Asian American elementary teachers viewed racism based on their upbringing as well as their experiences with racism in the teaching profession. The findings focused on six themes that exemplified how their perspectives shaped their abilities to not only identify racism in their workplaces but also how it impacted their retention. The six themes that were identified are: Asian American culture and work ethic; perceptions around racism connected to childhood neighborhoods; Anglicization of names; navigating Whiteness in teaching; fighting racism in education; outlying experiences. Recommendations address potential changes needed in teacher certification programs as well as the public K-12 system. These recommendations include support cohorts for teachers of color and continuous anti-racist trainings and curricula across the K-12 school system and teacher certification programs.