"Where Are Those Teachers?" A Critical Race Theory Analysis of Teachers of Color Who Have Left Teaching

• In Event: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Perspectives on Staying and Leaving the Teaching Profession

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of Pk-12 Teachers of Color who have left the teaching profession using a CRT lens. In-depth interview data from an IRB reviewed and approved study reveal that former Teachers of Color leave the teaching profession because of: (1) injustices and racism in school settings (2) lack of appreciation as a teacher professional (3) cumulative spiritual, psychological, physiological trauma. Interestingly, the counternarratives of the participants also provided three themes that depict their push-back as Teachers of Color in racialized educational spaces: 1) pride in identifying as a Teachers of Color 2) navigation of racialized educational spaces 3) and challenge the idea that they have “left” teaching.

Authors

• Monica Hernandez- Johnson, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Ravijot Singh, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Valerie L. Taylor, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Tara J. Plachowski, Embracing Equity