“There Just Isn’t Enough of Me”: The Cost of Moral Injury for One Teacher of Color

Abstract

This article provides an ethnographic accounting of one teacher of color’s experience of moral injury by exploring the question: what morally injurious events does Nancy experience, and what are the costs of those injuries? This project used participant observations and interviews to explore the moral injuries encountered. Moral injuries occurred due to a lack of just systems, racial representation, trust, student supports, trauma training, and holistic approaches. Eventually Nancy left the school as a principled leaver.

Keywords:

• high school
• moral injury
• teacher of color
• teacher retention