Centering Identity and Multilingualism in Educational Leadership Preparation Programs

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Reimagining Leadership Preparation

Abstract

As the population of multilingual learners identified as English learners (ELs) grows in the US, education leaders must be equipped to create school environments that are affirming and welcoming, with high expectations for these students and their families. Educational leadership preparation programs are an important part of the training of educational leaders. However, little is known about how they center candidates’ identities and how much of a focus the needs of multilingual learners are in the course content. This qualitative study explores the experiences of 25 current school and district leaders in the Central Coast of California in their educational leadership preparation programs as well as the level of focus on the needs of multilingual students in those programs.

Authors

• Elisabeth Kim, Lehman College

• Kalah Larison Ishimaru, California State University - Monterey Bay