Equity Work in the Current Moment

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium responds to this year’s AERA theme by presenting research into school leaders’ imaginings for an equity-centered future. Through three papers, the session looks at school districts’ current work to foster educational equity. Paper 1 illustrates how district leaders are responding to the current political moment and the strategies they are using to continue their efforts in the context of external threats. Paper 2 presents a qualitative study of three districts’ efforts to sustain school capacity for racial equity. Paper 3 offers a quantitative study of affective discourse among school leaders as they worked to build equity-centered principal pipelines. Together, these papers contribute to debates about leadership, policy, resistance, and the future of socially just schooling.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Leadership for Social Justice

Chair

• Daniella Molle, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Papers

• Sustaining Equity Work in an Anti-Equity Context - John B. Diamond, Brown University; Emily Handsman, Rutgers University; Jordan Mosby; Emily Nott, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• District Leaders' Strategies for Sustaining Equity Work in the Face of Obstacles - Caleb Probst, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• What They Talked About When Talking About Equity: Discourse in Principal Pipeline Work - Aziz Awaludin, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Daniella Molle, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Session Organizer

• Caleb Probst, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Discussant

• Francesca López, University of Wisconsin - Madison