Date of Award

Fall 12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Teaching & Learning

Program/Concentration

Teaching and Learning

Committee Director

Demetrice Smith-Mutegi

Committee Member

Kristie Gutierrez

Committee Member

Kala Burrell-Craft

Committee Member

Jori Beck

Abstract

The high demand for Black educators in K-12 schools across the United States has caused several teacher training programs to rethink how they prepare Black teacher candidates for the teaching workforce (Andrews et al., 2019; Blazar, 2024; Milner & Howard, 2004). Improving teacher candidate training, especially for Black teacher candidates can boost K-12 Black teacher representation. Literature on Black teacher candidate’s experiences while being mentored identifies several challenges that include issues with implicit bias, microaggressions, stereotyping and other occurrences of racial discrimination (Daly et al., 2024; Hampton et al., 2008; Kardos & Johnson-Moore, 2010; Rodriguez et al., 2020). The process for pairing Black teacher candidates with mentor teachers requires intentionality and implementation. Black mentor teachers can help Black teacher candidates strengthen Black teacher identity and invalidate implicit biases that impact their professional and personal development (Darling-Hammond, 2010; Kohli et al., 2022; Wandix-White, 2020).

This qualitative study examined the racially congruent mentoring relationships between Black teacher candidates and their Black mentor teachers. Using a narrative inquiry approach, this study explored the lived experiences of study participants in three key areas: sense of belonging, negating implicit bias, and Black teacher identity. Findings from this study indicate that racially congruent mentoring relationships for Black teacher candidates positively impact their sense of belonging. Additionally, the mentoring relationships fortify Black teacher candidates’ ability to negate implicit bias and assist in developing stronger Black teacher identity.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/am6g-0052

ISBN

9798276042305

ORCID

0009-0004-5477-2556

Download

Available for download on Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Share

COinS