Systems Justice and Decolonial “Self”-Actualization: Cultivated Storytelling of Principal Turnover Intentions in Marginalized School Communities

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: International and Post-Colonial Contexts for Social Justice Leadership

Abstract

This multi-method study investigates ecological factors driving principal turnover in California's marginalized school communities. Employing Critical Bioecological Systems Theory and Decolonial "Self"-Actualization, the research "unforgets histories" of systemic inequity. Preliminary findings from 16 principals reveal deep social justice commitment alongside significant challenges: unsupportive leadership, high stress, and unmet professional needs. Former principals' narratives underscore burnout and lack of systemic support. This study reframes turnover as a systemic issue, "imagining futures" through interventions that prioritize decolonial "self"-actualization and equitable policies for sustainable P-20 leadership. It offers a new vision for education research by integrating decolonial perspectives to foster innovation, sustainability, and equitable opportunities for underrepresented populations.

Author

• Kathryn Lige, San Francisco State University