Veronica Perez, a Latinx teacher, contemplates her career path while Jodie Sanders, an elementary principal, faces staffing challenges. Jodie navigates the Rios Unified School District under the oversight of Maria Zarate, Human Resources Director, aiming for diversity. However, Zarate’s efforts encountered resistance. Their experiences shed light on hurdles in recruiting Latinx educators. The three educators’ perspectives provide a glimpse into the gaps and opportunities districts and schools may face in attracting Latinx teachers. This case study explores the complexities, disconnects, and layers of understanding around diversity, equity, and inclusion district initiatives among teachers and leaders, with the goal of recruiting and retaining Latinx educators.
BensonT.MarlinS. (2021). The habit-forming guide to becoming a systems thinker (2nd ed.) Systems Thinking Group, Inc.
3.
BurchinalM.McCartneyK.SteinbergL.CrosnoeR.FriedmanS. L.McLoydV.PiantaR., & NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2011). Examining the Black-White achievement gap among low-income children using the NICHD study of early childcare and youth development. Child Development, 82(5), 1404–1420.
4.
Carver-ThomasD. (2017). Diversifying the field: Barriers to recruiting and retaining teachers of color and how to overcome them. Literature review. Equity Assistance Center Region II, Intercultural Development Research Association.
DoanS.GreerL.SchwartzH. L.SteinerE. D.WooA. (2022). State of the American Teacher and State of the American Principal Surveys: 2022 Technical documentation and survey results (Research Report. RR-A1108-3). RAND Corporation.
7.
FregeauL.LeierR. (2016). Two Latina teachers: Culture, success, higher education. Taboo. The Journal of Culture and Education, 15(1), 61–78.
8.
IrizarryJ. G. (2007). Home-growing teachers of color: Lessons learned from a town-gown partnership. Teacher Education Quarterly, 34(4), 87–102.
9.
IrvineJ. J. (2003). Educating teachers for diversity: Seeing with a cultural eye. Teachers College Press.
Learning Policy Institute. (2019). Understanding teacher shortages in California: A district- and county-level analysis of the factors influencing teacher supply and demand [Interactive map].
12.
Latino Coalition of Hillsboro County. (2000). They are our kids: Findings from the Latino dropout study. University of South Florida. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. 461464).
13.
MotamediJ. G.StevensD. (2018). Human resources practices for recruiting, selecting, and retaining teachers of color. Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest.
14.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). Spotlight A: Characteristics of public school teachers by Race/Ethnicity. U.S. Department of Public Education.
15.
NietoS. (2010). The light in their eyes: Creating multicultural learning communities. Teachers College Press.
