The Trajectory of the Invisible Teacher: Latinx Teachers in Search of Professional Belonging

• In Event: Latinx Teacher From and for Diverse Communities and Contexts

Abstract

This qualitive case study documented the trajectory of 10 Latinx teachers as they navigated the rugged landscape from student teaching, induction, early and mid-career development, to decisions about staying in the profession. Much research has focused on urban settings where teachers of color (TOC) experiences are contrasted with those of White colleagues. This study was set against the backdrop of Midwest rural communities; it focused on how TOCs who returned to their own communities were perceived, received, and nurtured towards staying in their schools and the profession. Data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Resulting insights illuminated factors that influence TOC decisions regarding pathways toward achieving the goal of dismantling systems of oppression for students and themselves.

Authors

• Socorro Herrera, Kansas State University

• Kevin G. Murry, Kansas State University

• Melissa Ann Holmes, Kansas State University