This study examines five novice teachers' perceptions of their preparation, interests, and abilities to integrate citizenship education into their secondary English language arts classrooms. The English teachers in this study highlight the difficulty in promoting progressive, social justice curricula without first grounding that pursuit in personal and participatory citizenship. Thus, as the United States awaits its return to normalcy after COVID-19, this study considers how English teacher educators may anchor courses in ideas of personal, participatory, and justice-oriented citizenship.