I Wanted to Do It Another Way: How the Needs of English Learners Inform the Work of Education Leaders

• In Event: Equity, Ethics, and Care in Leadership for School Improvement

Abstract

As the population of multilingual learners identified as English learners (ELs) grows in the US, it is critical that education leaders are equipped to create school environments that are affirming and welcoming. California has the largest EL population in the nation at 19.1%. This qualitative study explores the orientations of current and aspiring education leaders in the Central Coast of California toward ELs and their families. Findings suggest that education leaders’ experiences inform their approach to leadership in powerful ways. However, they do not have the opportunity to participate in professional learning focused specifically on the needs of ELs. Their experiences also inform their implementation of policies and practices in their schools but they still struggle with accountability pressures.

Author

• Elisabeth Kim, Lehman College