Latino Educational Leadership: Serving Latino Communities and Preparing Latina/o Leaders Across the Pre-K–20 Pipeline

• In Event: 42.070 - Defining Latino Educational Leadership: Guiding the Field to Serve Latino Communities and Prepare Latinx Leaders

Abstract

Educational leaders have challenges providing rich and equitable education for the Latino community, the fastest growing underserved demographic in the United States. Although the field of educational leadership draws connections to serve diverse populations, this work (Rodríguez, Martínez, & Valle, 2015) uses existing research and theory to establish the concept of Latino Educational Leadership. As a concept focused on serving Latino communities and the preparation of Latina/o leaders throughout the P-20 pipeline, the implication is to enhance research, policy, and practice for Latino communities.
In light of existing literature, the authors posit that Latino Educational Leadership across the P-20 pipeline in the United States must acknowledge the importance of serving Latino communities and families, as well as the ways in which Latina/os and leaders who serve Latina/o communities must negotiate and navigate a greater dominant socio-political system to improve educational opportunity and equity for diverse learners (i.e., racially, ethnically, linguistically, economically, etc.). Latina/o Educational Leadership must also consider the need to develop leaders across the educational pipeline that have the capacity to promote cultural, linguistic, and historical connections for Latino communities. Drawing upon Applied Critical Leadership is key in this latter respect, as it acknowledges the rich and unique contributions that educational leaders of color offer in serving diverse populations. However, deficit thinking and dominant/racist ideology are challenges that cut across all groups, including communities of color, and remain prevalent in the descriptions of and practices utilized with Latina/o communities. Therefore, critically preparing all educational leaders to serve and empower Latino communities and improve access and equity in schools and educational systems overall is paramount to the concept of Latino Educational Leadership. Closing with this working definition of Latino Educational Leadership, the authors call upon all scholars and practitioners to consider how their work contributes to serving Latino communities across the P-20 educational pipeline in the United States, which is reflected in the upcoming publication Latino Educational Leadership: Serving Latino Communities and Preparing Latina/o Leaders Across the P-20 Pipeline (Participant Panel 2).

Authors

• Cristobal Rodriguez, Howard University

• Melissa Ann Martinez, Texas State University

• Fernando Valle, Texas Tech University