The Spirit(uality) of Equitable Leadership: Black School Principals Merging Their Resilient Capital With Their School Roles

• In Event: 31.022 - Leadership for Improvement: Exploring Multiple Approaches to Change

Abstract

The examination of the leadership of black urban principals (Lomotey, 1987, Siddle Walker, 2001, 2003; Tillman, 2004) has enriched our theory and practice. This paper looks to share the narratives of six black urban school principals and the role of spirituality in promoting educational equity in schools. We use Dantley’s (2015) theory of principled, pragmatic, and purposive leadership as our conceptual framework. Three emergent themes will be shared (1) Spirituality shapes who they are, (2) Equitable Practices, (3) External forces influencing their leadership. In addition, we reveal how against the backdrop of the 2016 presidential election, these six black principals, guided by their spirituality, push back against the macro-level sociopolitical elements taking place in the United States today.

Authors

• Osly J. Flores, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Samuel Garcia, Texas State University