Transformative Reflections: Empowering Educational Leaders Through Collective Racial Discourse

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 2:30 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Fracturing and Transforming Race and Place (Table 19)

Abstract

This narrative study explored the transformative impact of collective reflective written and oral discourse regarding incidents of race and ethnicity. Additionally, the study sought to investigate how a deeper understanding of race, bias, and self, impacted educational leaders’ empowerment to support social action. Data collection included racial auto-ethnographies describing critical racial incidents, rational discourse conversations, and meeting reflections. Grounded in Mezirow’s (1991) theory of transformative learning, the “disorienting dilemma” themes identified through constant comparative analysis included geography, environmental influences, feeling seen and heard, and self-acceptance. The findings highlighted the transformative and empowering impact of shared racial discourse and reflection on educational leaders.

Authors

• Christa Reyes, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Michele Stork, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Tabbatha Carter, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Wheatly Dorsainvil, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Teri-Ann Petrekin, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Marianela Rivera, Florida Gulf Coast University