Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
2009
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
Advisor
Candace Lacey
Committee Member
Jessica Garcia-Brown
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
Minority Group Teachers/ Teachers/Recruitment/Retention of Employees.
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to investigate factors that influenced minority teachers to seek employment in the county public school district. The results revealed factors that could be used to assist with the development of a comprehensive recruitment plan that will potentially increase the number of minority teachers employed in the school district.
The school district experienced major difficulties with recruiting minority teachers. During the 2007-2008 school year, the school district hired 120 teachers of which 108 (90.0%) were White, 9 (7.5%) were African American, 2 (1.6%) were Hispanic, and 1 (0.1%) was Asian.
This mixed-methods dissertation used a triangulation design model: quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative (nonexperimental) section of the study was developed using descriptive research primarily through the use of survey research methods. An interview model was conducted to collect data for the qualitative section of the research study.
The researcher generated a list of the names of all of the minority staff and their employment assignments. The entire sample was sent a survey instrument via the school system’s pony mail process with a cover letter explaining the purpose of this study and instructions for completion and submission. The survey was also sent electronically for those who preferred this mode of communication. Participants were informed that all identifiable information would be kept confidential.
Additionally, a document review of the school district’s recruitment and retention policies and procedures occurred. Volunteer minority teachers and administrators were elicited to participate in individual and small group interviews. Time lines were established in February 2008 to ensure appropriate distribution, collection and analysis of the data.
An analysis of the results revealed that salary and the availability of the job were the two most important reasons for accepting employment in the school district. Interview findings were in line with salary and availability of job being important factors. The findings further suggested that recruitment activities should continue to focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Additionally, the district should ask teachers to participate in its career day activities and build partnerships with colleges and universities outside of the recruiting process.
NSUWorks Citation
Sharron Credle. 2009. Factors That Contributed to Minority Teachers’ Selecting Employment in a Maryland Public School District. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. (935)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/935.