The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of school building leaders (SBLs), also referred to as principals, regarding their facilitation of social justice leadership (SJL) and culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices to support student inclusion and belongingness within…

This research looks at the features of successful mentorship programs and their influence on at-risk African American male students. The research examines how an Afrocentric mentoring program affects attendance, discipline, and achievement. This intervention draws on the principles of the African American rites of passage movement to focus on…

This study examined the fundamental values, beliefs and principles that guided the work of Native Hawaiian principals (po?okumu) in Hawaiian-focused charter schools. Through an ethnographic case study, the lived experiences of seven Kanaka po?okumu/po?okula (of 14 possible participants) were collected through surveys, individual and group…

This study sought to extend the knowledge of the real-world application of leadership practices relevant and responsive to commonly marginalized students. This study focused on leadership practices of school leaders including principals and assistant principals through the lens of the theoretical framework crafted by Muhammad Khalifa (2018) titled…

Leveraging the education system for Black and Brown students has been an ongoing occurrence in the United States. This dissertation explores how Black women principals use leadership practices to create a safe learning environment that promotes learning in a caring and nourishing manner. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to…

This study explored the relationship between how Texas school leaders perceived that their behavior aligned with the implementation of Culturally Responsive Leadership (CRL) and how these perceptions related to the influence of principals on fellow school leaders, the frequency of CRL-aligned leadership development, and the district's readiness to…

Considering the historical context of issues related to racial disparity in K-12 education, it is important to mention that culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) has surfaced as an area of research in addressing those issues. However, a literature-based problem exists entailing paucity in research on the existence of specific factors that…

Rural, urban, and suburban school principals faced distinct challenges in engaging families and fostering positive school climates. Recognizing the need for tailored leadership strategies, it was essential for principal preparation programs to provide context-specific training. The purpose of basic interpretive qualitative study was to explore the…

Narrative inquiry is my research method, and my goal is to validate the use of narratives, including my reflective memos, journal reflections, and interpretations of various artifacts that share my students' experiences. As a Black woman and an educator, I emphasize the importance of culturally responsive school leadership for K-12 principals,…

As the population of ELLs continues to increase, so do the mandates to address the achievement gap of this diverse population. While there is a consensus on the importance of improving the academic achievement of ELLs (Elfers & Stritikus, 2014; Russell, 2018; Sua´rez-Orozco et al., 2008) and there is growing research reinforcing the needs for…

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who are English learners (ELs) represent over 10% of the overall student population in U.S. public schools. Nevertheless, this population is highly underserved in schools and has some of the lowest graduation rates. This phenomenological research interviewed eight principals to examine how they…

Demographics of the United States' school system continue to change and diversify. Meeting the needs of diverse learners is critical to the success of all children. Building and sustaining equitable learning environments has proven to be a challenging task for school leaders. Barriers that hinder equity continue to plague schools and are rooted in…

Demographics of suburban schools are shifting from predominantly White families to include more individuals and families of color, immigrants, and those who are economically vulnerable (Diamond & Posey-Maddox, 2020). In order to lead their changing communities in pursuit of equity, school administrators need support and guidance to recognize…

Conversations regarding racial equity are uncomfortable for many Catholic school leaders. This is due to a lack of clarity between Catholic social teaching (CST) and its implementation regarding racial justice among Catholic schools. This necessitates coherent guidance to address systemic racism in Catholic education which responds to the need for…

America is a very diverse country, with over 40% of the population identifying as people of color, and the proportion of public school students of color rising to 55% by the year 2027. Although the face of students in schools has changed, the ethnic composition of the educators has not. These race/ethnicity differences between school staff and…