Analysis of multiple data sources revealed a prevalent gap between high school and middle school African American students and their White counterparts in mathematics. Based on these data and a gap in the literature, further research was needed regarding how the mathematics performance of African American students is influenced by culturally responsive leadership and culturally responsive teaching. The purpose of this study was to determine if culturally responsive behaviors of high school and middle school principals influence the behaviors of mathematics teachers resulting in building conceptual understanding of their students; and, how teachers' culturally responsive actions impact the mathematics performance of African American students.
The research questions guiding this qualitative study were (1) To what extent, if any, do principals at the high school and middle school levels that exemplify culturally responsive leadership influence mathematics teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching that results in building conceptual understanding in mathematics? and, (2) To what extent, if any, do culturally responsive teaching practices impact the mathematics performance of African American students at the high school and middle levels? The results indicated that the purposive sample of high school and middle school principals (n = 7) exhibited critical consciousness (self-awareness) and interrelationships amongst teachers and students; communication and being present; and, data- driven decision-making. The purposive sample of high school and middle school mathematics teachers (n = 23) exhibited content knowledge that allowed for differentiated instruction inclusive of building conceptual understanding through multiple mathematical representations; and, engaged their students in mathematical discourse requiring students to reason and justify their solutions. Thus, such actions created a familial-like atmosphere inherent in optimal learning environments for African American students. Students with culturally responsive teachers performed better on division-wide assessments, with the effect of reducing the achievement gap between African American and White students compared to teachers not self-identified as having high levels of cultural responsiveness with results statistically significant at the 0.01 level after conducting a two-proportions z-test. / Doctor of Education / The purpose of this study was to determine if culturally responsive behaviors of high school and middle school principals influence the behaviors of mathematics teachers resulting in building conceptual understanding of their students; and, how teachers' culturally responsive actions impact the mathematics performance of African American students. The synthesis of the literature review and the results of this study could provide information that would assist school leaders and teachers in not only understanding their respective roles impacting and influencing the mathematics performance of African American students at the high school and middle school levels, but also understanding the pedagogical, conceptual understanding, and leadership practices and factors that can lead to this improvement.
A qualitative study design was used in one urban Virginia school division encompassing a preliminary screening of high school and middle school principals and mathematics teachers; observations of high school and middle school principals and mathematics teachers; and, a culminating culturally responsive leadership practices survey. The researcher sought to examine (1) To what extent, if any, do principals at the high school and middle school levels that exemplify culturally responsive leadership influence mathematics teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching that results in building conceptual understanding in mathematics? and, (2) To what extent, if any, do culturally responsive teaching practices impact the mathematics performance of African American students at the high school and middle levels? Data from division-wide assessments demonstrated that the students of culturally responsive teachers performed better and with a reduced achievement gap between African American and White students compared to teachers not having self-identified with high levels of cultural responsiveness. Observations from the high school and middle school principals and mathematics teachers revealed specific behaviors and strategies used consistently across the sample. From the findings, implications for practices and recommendations for future studies were rendered.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/97061 |
| Date | 26 February 2020 |
| Creators | Byrd-Wright, Angela Nicole |
| Contributors | Counselor Education, Cash, Carol S., Price, Ted S., Grove, Sharmaine Denise, Mullen, Carol Ann |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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