American Educator chronicles one woman's journey from ninth-grade dropout, to university professor and beyond. The novella takes place over a turbulent eleven years of teaching in colleges and even in prison. Franklin helped students from over 50 different countries, many of whom are refugees from war-torn regions. Through their personal, often heart-wrenching stories, she presents some of the complex realities of overseas conflicts that are rarely seen on the news. These people changed her life and perspective, and she feels compelled to share what she learned. Throughout, the author interweaves her personal journey and her own struggle of trying to earn a living as an educator in a system that makes it nearly impossible. She went from making a nice living in the beginning of her teaching career to near homelessness, all while undergoing a personal transformation in her goals and identity.