Committed to Change: A Multicase Study of Three Educators' Transformation to Social Justice Leaders

• In Event: 16.058 - Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: 16.058-17 - Context and Practice: What Does Social Justice Look Like?

Abstract

This narrative multi-case study explores the process of becoming a social justice leader. Documenting the professional lives of three urban, public school principals, the paper details their challenges and triumphs as they navigate through teaching and administrative histories searching for a way to better respond to the diverse needs of their students. Building upon inclusive social justice leadership literature, their stories turn theory into action. With transformative learning theory as the backdrop, the study finds all leaders experienced a significant incident in their professional lives that awakened an equity consciousness. Implications for school reform, leadership training and professional development are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of social justice in action and its importance to public education.

Authors

• Heather Cole, Raise Your Hand Texas

• Barbara L Pazey, The University of Texas - Austin