Spanish Teacher: "I don't understand why

the teachers never listen and leave the computers

on"
Classroom teachers do not leave computers on
all the time for the Spanish teacher

Classroom teachers are strong

with technology

"Spanish class is so horrible"

Spanish Teacher has many
different lived experiences
and validates Hispanic students'
heritages

Affects lessons
and student learning

All teachers bring

with them different
kinds of cultural capital

HOW DOES IT AFFECT STUDENTS?

KEY TAKEAWAY

"In general, the specials teachers at this

school are all really bad..."

DATA COLLECTION: Anecdotes

Students see that

Whiteness is privileged

PROBLEM:
Collaboration Between Spanish Teacher and
Classroom Teachers

Not contributing to the negative

conversation

ACTIONABLE STEPS I TOOK

FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING
TO THE
PROBLEM

Generation Gap

Spanish teacher talks loudly to students in

front of parents to discipline them. After class,
they have a conversation:
Spanish Teacher: "Was that too harsh?"
Classroom Teacher: "Yeah."
Spanish Teacher: "I'm telling you, it's cultural."
(After Spanish Teacher leaves)
Classroom Teacher: "I was so embarrassed when
the Spanish teacher yelled at the students in
front of the parents today!"

Classroom teachers are in their

mid 20s to early 30s

Spanish teacher is in her late 50s

Reached out to Spanish teacher
for Spanish recess game ideas
to show she also had valuable
ideas

Assisted with technology

during lessons

Cultural Gap

Classroom teachers identify

with white upper middle class
values

Spanish teacher
is from the
Dominican Republic
and identifies
with more traditional Hispanic values

Strong
Technology
Skills
Has difficulty
with technology
very individualistic in discipline and positions
children as making their own choices which
have consequences

has more communal approach

towards discipline and views children
as being responsible for their families