Factors that influence African American male teachers' educational and career aspirations: Implications for school district recruitment and retentionefforts

The declining number of minority teachers, particularly African American ma le teachers, is of concern as the nation's public school student population becomes increasingly diverse. This study of African American male teachers (N = 140) working in a suburban school district identified factors that pr edicted the educational and career aspirations of these teachers, and compa red these findings to factors identified in the literature. Predictor varia bles examined included the teachers' backgrounds, undergraduate majors, qua lifications, and motivation to impart knowledge. Criterion variables includ ed educational aspirations and career aspirations. Logistical regression wa s used to examine the data. The teachers' motivation to impart knowledge an d their undergraduate majors were found to be significant predictors of the ir educational and career aspirations.