Culturally Responsive Instructional and Transformational Leaders

• In Event: Culturally Responsive School Leadership: Empirical Research and Theoretical Advances

Abstract

One hundred and thirteen years later we are still “wanting” for the education of children (especially African American and children of color) in the United States of America. The school systems in our nation are clearly not serving “all” learners well. As a result, university faculty must be committed to reinventing leadership with a core focus on instructional support for K-12 educators. Our goal must be to develop Masters’ and Doctoral programs that ensure developing scholars who lead as culturally responsive instructional leaders in very complex contexts (Beachum, 2011; McKenzie & Skrla, 2011; Webb-Johnson, 2006). At the core, the primary goal should be to ensure the development and service delivery practice of 21st Century leaders who are committed to equity, diversity, and social justice through purposeful research, policy, and practice through instructional lens that support teachers in their teaching.
Toward that end, this paper will discuss the redesign of leadership courses as a collaborative process. It is important to move beyond merely “specialized” courses in diversity. Every course must reflect the importance of considering, embracing, and acting on issues of race/ethnicity, culture, language, gender, disability, and sexual orientation in 21st century instructional contexts. As a result, each course must be redesigned with a philosophy deeply steeped in equity consciousness, with socially just actions in leadership, teaching, and comprehensive school practice. Culturally responsive instructional leaders create transformative schools where “all” children learn and “receive” instruction to learn these very important skills (Chambers, 2009). We believe culturally responsive instructional leader preparation is the key to successful K-12 leadership.

Authors

• Judy A. Alston, Ashland University

• Gwendolyn C. Webb-Hasan, Texas A&M University - College Station