The Effects of Accountability on Latina Teachers Within the Midwest Charter Network

• In Event: The Curricular Cost of Gender and Sexuality In/justice

Abstract

In this qualitative, multisite instrumental case study six Latina teachers were interviewed within the Midwest Charter Network to explore the effects of neoliberal accountability measures. These findings challenge neoliberal discourse surrounding teacher roles by recognizing the complexity of identity, personal beliefs, and the ways context shapes these six teachers’ experiences. They do not simply see their role as presenting a curriculum, but as intellectual practitioners charged with and committed to improving the lives of students. While they fulfill the expectations of accountability, they practice agency and provide a democratic and rich learning environment. These teachers are not subordinate to accountability measures but are able to re-imagine education’s potential to resist neoliberal notions and actively work against them.

Author

• Alexandra I Cruz, DePaul University