Ethnic Matching: Academic Success of Students of Color

Ethnic Matching: Academic Success of Students of Color is an in-depth exploration on the impact of ethnic matching in education, the paring of students of color with teachers of the same race. Research shows that this method has a positive and long-term impact on the academic experience of students of color. This book explores what makes this phenomenon relevant in today’s classrooms. Through interviewing quality teachers of color, this book sheds a light on the impact these teachers make on the academic experience of students of color. This approach is meant to provide all teachers valuable insight into techniques for engaging with diverse learners. Also, from these conversations, the book shows how the intentionality of culturally responsive practice can enhance the academic experience of students of color. Topics such as the challenges of recruiting and retaining quality teachers of color, as well as the valuable work being done on the local, state, and national level to promote diversifying the field of education as a way to provide equitable education for all students is also explored in this book.

Table of Contents:
Forward: “Ethnic Matching:” Intriguing Idea, Challenging Practice Geneva L. Gay Preface Where Do We Start? Motivation Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Framework of the Book Population Change in the U.S. Demography Shift in U.S. Public Schools Schools Are More than Black, White, and Latinx Systems, Challenges, and Solutions Chapter 2: Ethnic Matching As a Concept Developing Perspective Knowledge The Impact of Perceptive Knowledge Perceptive Discrimination Perceptive Expectations Expectation Combined With Race and Ethnicity Explicit Expectations Implicit Expectations Situational Expectations Expectations and Ethnic-Matching Takeaways Chapter 3: Ethnic Matching In PK-12 Education Impacts of Ethnic Matching in P-12 Response to Diversifying Teacher Education Takeaways Chapter 4: What Can We Learn From Ethnic Matching? Let’s Start the Conversation Build Positive Relationships with Students and Community Self-Reflection and Honesty with Self Cultural Responsive Lessons and Student Behaviors Empathy with the Challenges Students Face Be Patient and Resilient Patient Teaching through a Culturally Responsive Lens Resilient Teaching Advocate for Justice and Believe in Students Takeaways Chapter 5: Practical Insight into the Impact of Teachers of Color on Students of Color Intentional Approach to Teaching Students of Color Oblivious Teachers Irresponsible Teacher Conscious Teachers Activist Teachers Responsive Teacher Cultural Response to Knowledge Takeaways Chapter 6: Challenges In Diversifying Teacher Education: Creating a More Culturally Responsive Educator Workforce Communities: Students of Color Populations A Missing Conversation Teachers of Color The Other Side of Teachers of Color Local and State Challenges in Diversifying Teacher Education Teacher Preparation Programs Takeaways Chapter 7: Systematic Strategies For Developing A More Diverse And Culturally Responsive Workforce Policies and Diversifying Teacher Education School Leaders and Diverse Schooling Grow Your Own Programs Retention of Teachers of Color Takeaways Conclusion Notes About the Author Index

About the Author :
Donald Easton-Brooks is a educational advocate, leader, scholar, and researcher whose aim is to promote, create, and engage in educational practices that focuses of equitable educational opprotunies for all students.

Review :
This book is important and exceptionally timely as students of color become the majority across the nation. Easton-Brooks provides a lucid analysis of what educators can learn from the pedagogical practices of teachers of color that support the academic growth of students of color. This book so clearly unpacks both core concepts and myths that it should be required reading in teacher education and leadership programs. Dean Easton-Brooks' book offers a long-awaited analysis and historical overview of the concept of ethnic-matching. He skillfully integrates his analysis of the literature with stories shared by effective teachers of color who demonstrate the power of ethnic-matching. This book offers an important complement to the bevy of research studies that examine the impact of teachers of color on the education of students of color. Students deserve to experience learning opportunities that honor, speak from the point of view of, and recognizes the many assets of their culture and ethnicity. Easton-Brooks has demonstrated the powerful ways in which ethnic-matching can maximize students’ opportunities to learn inside classrooms. This book showcases the very best of what is possible for students too often placed on the margins of teaching and learning when mechanisms – such as ethnic-matching – are in place to support their academic and social success. A call to action, a transformative way of thinking about and imagining teaching and learning, and a plausible agenda that penetrates the micro and macro, this book has the potential to make a real difference in school districts across the country that dare to think about innovative ways of recruiting and retaining a more racially and ethnically diverse teaching force for the benefit of students, particularly those of color. Grounded in research and informed by practice, this book should be required reading of educators pre- and in-service to students. The need for greater diversity in the educator workforce as a moral imperative has long been clear. In Dr. Easton-Brooks' work, the educational benefits of ethnic-matching and greater educator diversity are brought to light. Through student perspectives, teacher reflection, and application examples, Dr. Easton-Brooks explores the tremendous value of teachers of color in American classrooms. The time for true effort on the part of all educators to recruit and hire representative teachers is now- the proof for why is found through this book.