Supporting Systemic Change: Examining Leadership Practices for Latino Family Engagement at a Community School

• In Event: 66.048 - Public Policy and Educational Practices for Latinx Students

Abstract

Our research explores leadership practices that facilitate meaningful Latino family engagement at a community school in Eastern Pennsylvania. We collected multiple data sources over a twelve-month period and use Eggers-Piérola’s (2005) Connections and Commitments Cultural Framework to inform our analysis. Here we focus on two school leadership practices that not only supported family engagement, but also systemic change. Namely, leading collective problem solving with advocacy and shared decision making, and developing theme-based, civic-minded student leadership program across grade levels. Our work documents and theorizes the relationship between Latino family engagement and community schools, and contributes to the burgeoning knowledge base about community schools as a strategy to promote equity and excellence. Implications for research and practice will be discussed.

Authors

• Sandra Quinones, Duquesne University

• Anne Marie FitzGerald, Duquesne University