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Elementary Science: A Critical Race Perspective Of Exemplary African American Teachers, Mario Pickens

Early Childhood and Elementary Education Dissertations

The elementary years are a critical time for all students to learn science and 21^st century skills needed to function and flourish in a scientifically advanced world. Despite such importance, research consistently documents that students of color have less access to science opportunities and receive lower quality K-12 STEM education (Atwater 2000; Prime, 2019). These factors, along with the low priority generally given to science education at the elementary level, present significant challenges to the field. As the student population becomes increasingly diverse, the teaching workforce continues to remain predominately White. Research reveals that African American teachers play an …