Healing-Centered Educator Activism in Mathematics Actualized by Women of Color Mathematics Teacher Activists

Abstract

Many teacher activists engage in justice-oriented work within and outside their classrooms, yet the work of mathematics teacher activists has been understudied. In this qualitative interview study, I investigated ten women of Color mathematics teacher activists’ actualization of their organizing work, which includes the creation of and participation in grassroots collectives, podcasts, and online communities that aim to disrupt dominant conceptualizations of mathematical knowledge. Building on theories of teacher activism and healing-centered engagement, I share findings of participants’ healing-centered educator activism. From the findings, I theorize a healing-centered educator activism in mathematics framework, which entails centering relationships and community wellness (of humans and the earth) for collective healing, examining and dismantling systems of oppression, broadening conceptualizations of mathematical knowledge, and fostering healthy relationships with dominant mathematics. I discuss constraints and considerations for engaging in healing-centered educator activism as a teacher of mathematics.