Date of Award
Summer 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Committee Chair
Morgan Blanton
Abstract
Teachers emigrate annually from their native countries to seek employment in the United States. Their roles as cultural ambassadors and highly qualified professionals are put to the test in a new environment. International teachers, like their native counterparts, are charged with the task of meeting the needs of each student. Traditionally, teachers were recruited in hard-to-staff areas such as bilingual education, foreign languages, math, and science; however, for the past decade, recruitment has been done across all disciplines. This study examined the adjustment process and its impact on both educators and the education system in the United States. The goal of this study was to get an understanding of factors related to culture and career implications and their impact on the adjustment process. This qualitative study investigated how international teachers adjust to teaching in the United States. Based on the data gathered through in-depth interviews, eight major themes emerged from the findings. The findings hold significance as they provide data that assist states, counties, school districts, schools, and recruitment agencies in implementing practices that can improve the experiences of international teachers. The implications for practice include a transitional period related to relocation, an action plan for fostering collaboration with native teachers, culture shock related to professional development, testing and measurement, and adherence to meaningful mentorship. Recommendations include a longitudinal study on international teachers adjusting to teaching in American schools, replicating the study focusing on specific content, native teachers, principals, and student perceptions of international teachers, and a study on international teachers and adjusting to technology.
Recommended Citation
Harrison-Reid, Marlene R., "Teacher Voices: A Qualitative Interview Investigation of International Teachers Adjusting to Teaching in the United States" (2025). Doctor of Education Dissertations. 252.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/education-dissertations/252
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