Latina Teachers: Creating Careers and Guarding Culture

Abstract

As a college professor who happens to be a Latina immigrant, I am particularly pleased to read a book that provides so much detail on the lives of Latino students at schools and that recognizes the incredible relevance teachers might have on the academic trajectories of Latino students. My excitement emerges from the recognition of a history of a dichromatic (Black and White) dialogue regarding the lived experiences of students at schools and their interaction with teachers that for many reasons has caused and continues to cause detriment to the academic trajectories of many Latino students. The lack of knowledge of many educators, parents, and policymakers on the realities lived by Latino children and how they navigate a bilingual reality results in teachers having lower expectations for many Latino children, who they mistakenly assume are less smart, less committed, and less capable to understand, given their different cultural background. In Latina Teachers: Creating Careers and Guarding Culture, Glenda M. Flores provides a well-documented, nuanced picture of the significant roles Latina teachers have on Latino students’ academic future.