Black Teacher Leadership in Southern Segregated Schooling Communities: Using the History on Black Teachers to (Re)Construct Teacher Leadership

• In Event: Developing Teacher Leadership: Perspectives From China and the United States

Abstract

The presentation will explore the historical and contemporary significance of Black teacher leadership, particularly within Southern segregated schooling communities. By examining the rich legacy of Black educators during de jure segregation, the study aims to reframe current conceptualizations of teacher leadership, highlighting its deeper historical roots. Utilizing archival data from the Palmetto Education Association, the Black teacher organization in South Carolina, the research underscores how Black teachers exhibited leadership qualities that significantly contributed to school, community, and professional advancement. This work challenges the prevailing narrative that positions teacher leadership as a relatively recent phenomenon, and instead posits that the practices of Black educators during segregation offer valuable insights for modern educational improvement and reform.

Author

• Miyoshi Juergensen, University of Alabama - Birmingham