Provocateur Pieces: “My Black Kids Are Not Sub-Pops”: Reflecting on the Impact of Standardized Testing in English Education

This Provocateur Piece recounts the story of Francis from teacher preparation to her decision to exit the profession after five years. I seek to provide a space for English educators to step back and think about how we prepare and support ELA teachers. Francis was prepared and able to celebrate the diversity of her students, and her classrooms were spaces of equity and respect. And yet, she is leaving the profession. Why? What can we do to keep this from happening?