Resiliency, Relationships, Redesign, and Reflection: How African American Female Principals Lead in Urban Secondary Schools

• In Event: 30.069 - Women and Educational Leadership

Abstract

Current research regarding women’s school leadership often overlooks the unique experiences of African American female school leaders. The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the ways African American female secondary principals envision their identities and leadership styles within the social context of urban secondary schools. Three female African American secondary school principals that met the researcher’s criteria were selected for the study. After analyzing the interview data, common purposes, identities, roles, barriers and motivators were identified. Based on the results, a conceptual model was designed entitled “The Four R’s Leadership Model of African American Female Secondary Principals.” The elements of the model are: 1) resiliency, 2) relationship; 3) redesign and 4) reflection.

Author

• Pamela Lee Gray, Sam Houston State University