Latina Teachers in the Deep South: Testimonios, Cuentos y Consejos

The first of its kind, this book focuses on the personal and educational experiences of three Latina teachers in the Deep South, using contemporary young adult literature written by three Latina authors. The three-month narrative ethnographic study explored the lived experiences of these teachers during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection methods included book talks, altered book tasks, in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and ethnographic field notes. This study disrupted traditional methods by emphasizing cultural trenzas (braids), highlighting the linguistic and cultural attributes of the Latina teacher participants. Findings revealed three predominant themes in the narrative stories shared by the participants, namely: grounding by family, the experience of belongingness, and empowerment (stemming from bilingualism and increased awareness through young adult literature).