Abstract
<p>The need to increase teacher diversity in deaf education has been a national concern over the last decade. The ethnic, racial, cultural, and linguistic composition of the teaching force has remained relatively unchanged; White, hearing, females make up the majority of the teaching force. In sharp contrast, the K-12 student population has become increasingly diverse which creates a chasm that is unlikely to change during the next decade without focused effort. This study considered group demographics and implications for culturally- responsive recruiting practices. The need for improved recruitment of Deaf professionals and diverse professionals is discussed, along with other associated challenges. Findings of a national study of recruitment priorities of preservice deaf educators are reported. Causal- comparative analyses revealed statistically significant recruitment priorities among groups of students as a function of hearing status and diversity status. The article provides suggestions for improved recruiting practices for deaf education teacher preparation programs.</p>
