Still in Search of a Home: A Critical Analysis of Black Teacher Turnover and Exclusion

This article uses critical race theory (CRT) to examine Black teachers' turnover in public schools. Specifically, I highlight the role(s) of anti-literacy efforts, industrial education, desegregation initiatives, and neoliberal reform policies in Black teacher exclusion. This article reframes Black teacher turnover discussions through a critical, historical examination of systemic policies and practices which have excluded Black teachers from the profession. Hence, the search for "home" serves as a metaphor for stabilizing the Black teacher workforce. In the end, I offer suggestions to help future researchers rearticulate Black teacher turnover. Furthermore, I propose hopeful considerations for research, education leaders and policymakers.