Tensions in Decolonizing International School Educators: A Case Study

Each year, the existing cohort of elementary teachers at The American School participate in a professional development program. This program includes both academic and social adaptation resources and support for teachers within the school community. Previous to this research study, the program mostly included training on academic programs, assessment strategies that align with the policies and resources for teachers to explore to support their curriculum. Most teachers requested training on the standards and assessment practices as the school made strategic shifts toward new pedagogical practices. Glaringly absent from this training was any support with the cultural transition for teachers, most of whom have not worked within a Mexican school setting with a largely Mexican family demographic. This action research study draws from theories of decolonization, postcolonialism, culturally relevant pedagogy, cultural mindset and critical whiteness studies. This case study took place during the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year at The American School, in Torreón, Mexico. Four international elementary teachers were randomly selected to participate in the study and agreed to engage in all elements of the data collection over the course of two months. Data collection included teacher classroom observations, multiple collective biography sessions, a focus group and individual interviews. The results from this study demonstrated that a colonial mindset heavily influenced teachers' decisions and beliefs about their work, sense of power within the classroom and how they interact with their students. Additionally, the research suggests that there was a dominant teacher-centered approach to pedagogical practices, and this reinforced traditional and Eurocentric values. Finally, an analysis of teacher emotions suggested elements of both white fragility and white fatigue centered around conversations of race, culture and oppression. The conclusion of this study includes a discussion of recommendations for future training, with the hopes of the patterns demonstrated in the cases studied.