To effectively teach historically marginalized groups of students, educators have argued for increasing recruitment and retention of teachers of color. This qualitative study draws on identity theory, exploring the relationship between school structures, self-talk, identity development, and retention of an African American woman science teacher. In this study, the teacher experienced identity conflicts because structures in her school conflicted with her professional identity, shaped by race and gender, as warm and connected. Results from this study indicate that policies that prioritize measurement over relationships can cause contradictions with culturally responsive approaches and the emotional practice of teaching.