Transforming a Challenge Into an Opportunity: Leadership for Social Justice at a Texas Elementary School

• In Event: Focusing on Social Justice as a Catalyst for Improving Diverse Schools

Abstract

Refugee and immigrant students represent one of the fastest growing groups in the United States. In 2014, the number of refugee families resettled in the state of Texas alone increased by 24%. Often facing language, economic, and cultural barriers, refugee students are especially vulnerable to the marginalizing effects of public education. This paper explores the process by which one Texas elementary school attempted to transform taken-for-granted assumptions and foster a sense of community and a commitment to social justice. This study offers a compelling account of how transformative learning can occur when individuals develop a “collective awareness of social inequality” and begin to take an active stance towards social justice” (Chen, 2011, p. 165).

Authors

• Alicia Hill, Austin Independent School District

• Janna Griffin, Austin Independent School District