“My Curriculum Has No Soul!”: A Case Study of the Experiences of Black Women Science Teachers Working at Charter Schools

ABSTRACT

This qualitative case study examines the experiences of three Black female science teachers who experienced and participated in the triumphs and failings of today’s charter school system while teaching Black and Brown students. Using Critical Race Theory and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy as frameworks, the findings of the study revealed that the teachers explained the rationale behind how and why they teach science to Black and Brown students, the actions that define their thinking (both positive and negative), and the personal and professional repercussions for being a Black woman science teacher working at a Charter Management Organization (CMO). Based on these findings, we suggest that science teacher educators encourage teachers to take risks by engaging in socio-political consciousness through curriculum redesign. Disrupting the White status quo requires science teacher educators to practice culturally relevant teaching themselves.

KEYWORDS:

• Black science teachers
• charter schools
• critical race theory
• culturally relevant teaching
• science education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).