Doctor of Education, Ashland University, 2014, College of Education

Through this qualitative study, the story of the African American male as a learner in the public school system was investigated. There were 12 adult Black male participants, six of whom dropped out of school before completion, and six of whom graduated with a high school diploma. From their earliest memories, they shared their lived experiences in the public school setting. The findings from this study indicated that a supportive network, such as that provided in a two-parent household or by an adult mentor, was the critical factor in the success or failure of the African American male relative to graduating from high school.

Committee: Jane Piirto PhD (Committee Chair); James Chapple EdD (Committee Member); Rosaire Ifedi EdD (Committee Member); Howard Walters EdD (Committee Member) Subjects: African Americans; Education; Gender; Teaching