District Administrators, School Leaders, and Community Agencies: Perceptions of School Systems as Societal Change Agents

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 2:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Opportunities and Tensions in School-Community-Family Partnerships (Table 1)

Abstract

As schools play a significant role in social changes, many various local and government constraints and academic accountability demands have hindered long-term growth toward social improvements. More research is needed to examine the role of schools in contributing to systemwide, societal change. As such, this qualitative study used Critical Change Theory with semi-structured interviews for nine participants (i.e., district administrators, school leaders, and community agencies) to explore perceptions and experiences with regard to school-community partnerships designed to impact social change. The contexts of culture wars, amidst existing partnerships and academic demands, revealed unique ways in which all three sets of leaders worked to enhance partnerships, sustain effective practices, and reduce disparities in order to drive social change efforts.

Authors

• Jafeth Sanchez, University of Nevada - Reno

• Joel Peixoto, Washoe County School District