"Working Woke": Social Justice Leadership and Women of Color in K–12 Educational Leadership

• In Event: Walking and Working: Confronting Barriers to Social Justice

Abstract

Educational leadership positions are important to the success of schools and the advancement of students. Women of color K-12 administrators occupy less than 5% of leadership positions in the United States. Thus, there should be more women of color K-12 administrators. Drawing from Critical Race Theory (CRT) (Ladson-Billings, 1995) with Applied Critical Leadership (ACL) (Santamaria, 2013) as a leadership practice, this paper will put theory into practice and offer the ways in which WOC K-12 administrators make sense of their leadership. The counter-narratives of WOC school administrators will illuminate their unique leadership styles and offer an inside look at how these women "work woke" and apply social justice leadership within their schools and communities.

Author

• Veneice Guillory-Lacy, Ph.D., San Jose State University