Building Equitable Leadership Capacity: An Improvement Science Toolkit

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

For leaders who understand the urgency around addressing generations of inequities in schooling, using Improvement Science (IS) can advance equity in major metropolitan schools. IS offers a toolkit to address inequities and avoid racialized pitfalls of system reform by implementing rapid, focused cycles to address adaptive challenges in schools. The researchers reflected on their implementation and outcomes of using IS with a culturally responsive lens on micro and macro levels. Researchers used theoretical frameworks grounded in adult learning to build capacity to make equitable changes at the school and district level. Through reflective dialogue, researchers address the research question: how do short, rapid improvement cycles focused on capacity-building of leaders benefit schools serving students of color in significant and sustainable ways?

Sub Unit

• SIG-Improvement Science in Education

Chair

• Celeste A. Housey, NYCPS

Participants

• Lyntonia Gold, New York City Department of Education

• Jermaine D. Dickerson, Fordham University

• Kevin J. Coyne, Fordham University

Papers

• Reflections on Using Improvement Science for Culturally Responsive Instructional Leadership - Celeste A. Housey, NYCPS

• Empowering Community School Attendance Teams Through Improvement Science Practices - Kevin J. Coyne, Fordham University

• Sustaining Cycles of Learning: Partnering Towards Equity-Literate Leadership Capacity - Lyntonia Gold, New York City Department of Education

• Improvement Science, DEI, And Self-Interrogation: A Pathway Towards Eliminating Traditional Indicators of Academic Success - Jermaine D. Dickerson, Fordham University

Discussant

• Phillip A Smith, Fordham University