Agosto, V: Identities and Social Justice Values of Prospecti

Three aspiring teacher from different racial and ethnic groups discuss their aspirations to become teachers. Through their discussion of their expectations for teaching and perceptions of education in the United States they reveal their values related to social justice. As they navigate their first two years in the university setting they are confronted with questions about identity and equity that impact their views about what schools should provide. Each participant in this case study of three prospective teachers of color share their life histories and early influences on their value systems. Included in their life histories are intersections of race, class, language, and ethnicity. Each participant expresses a desire to avoid reproducing the problems they experienced in schools or witnessed. However, their journey in the educational pipeline toward teaching continues to be tenuous as they struggle with their identity development, university context, and uncertainty about how to construct a teacher identity that aligns with their sense of purpose.