Navigating Fronteras: How Physical and Symbolic Borders Manifest for Latinx Teachers in Schools

• In Event: BIPOC Teacher Resistance and Solidarity

Abstract

When thinking of schools and experiences of Latinx teachers, borders could be invisible lines of where certain teachers are “allowed” while others are not. The study asks: How do border manifestations impact the mobility of teachers in schools? Guided by the study’s purpose, the teachers recruited for the platicas are middle to high school teachers from Texas and California. The three main themes that emerged were: (1) the shifting of identity, (2) importance of their classrooms, and (3) meaning making through mapping. These platicas created a space to talk about experiences in and around the teachers’ classrooms as teaching can at times be isolating. To best understand the environments in which teachers are working, it is imperative to start platicando.

Author

• Julieta Rico, University of California - Los Angeles