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…

School leaders undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping educational experiences and creating student opportunities (Grissom et al., 2021; Leithwood et al., 2004). Similarly, racialized identities also play an equally crucial role in shaping educational experiences as racialized identities shape worldviews, experiences, and practices (Nasir,…

Many district and school leaders have leveraged instructional leadership or social justice leadership to advance student achievement for minoritized students. While research has examined these approaches separately, we identify a potential gap at the nexus between instructional and social justice leadership. In particular, we find a need for…

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive study was to explore how African American principals describe how they establish personal, interpersonal, communal, systemic, and ecological practices for social justice in schools in the southeastern region of the United States. Furman's social justice leadership as praxis model, centers on three…

Post-pandemic data demonstrate that there has been an increase in student mental health and behavioral needs, and these changes have a significant effect on the culture and climate of schools. School administrators have traditionally relied on suspension to address challenging behaviors, yet this approach has not been shown to be effective. While…

The purpose of the study was to examine if a relationship exists between productive giftedness and social justice leadership in leaders of high-poverty schools. The following research question guided this study: Is there a relationship between productive giftedness and social justice leadership in leaders of high-poverty schools? In the study, 113…

The role of the principal includes various obligations and responsibilities, including leading the school's special education (SPED) program. Many aspects inform how SPED students respond to the curriculum, including their learning needs, race, socioeconomic class, and other aspects that intersect and make their needs more complex. The researcher…

Public schools in the United States are serving a more heterogeneous student population than ever before. Despite numerous educational reform efforts, opportunity gaps persist between marginalized students and their White peers. Deep-seated barriers make it difficult for districts, schools, and especially site principals to effectively implement…

The purpose of this study is to explore and understand how social justice leaders develop. This study reports the findings of social justice leaders who experienced childhood poverty and currently work as principal in Title I schools. This study utilized qualitative research methodology, specifically narrative inquiry, to answer the research…

This qualitative case study seeks to understand the lived experiences of school principals acknowledging and elevating student counternarratives shared via Instagram during the Black@ movement about the impact of race in their schools. This study also explores how school principals demonstrate racial literacy attentive to school context through…

Suburban school districts have experienced a racial and ethnic shift within the past 10 years. School districts that once were predominantly White have pivoted to a more diverse demographic. While we have seen the shifting of student demographics the same has not manifested within school leadership. This critical qualitative study sought to…

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of Black men credentialed to be assistant principals and principals within a southeastern, urban public school district based upon the philosophies of equity and social justice. Through a qualitative constructivist approach, this research explores their experiences in and with education and how it…

Ongoing worldwide crises have imposed profound challenges on school leaders. Principals face increasing pressure to understand and address the multifaceted needs of their communities. However, traditional paradigms often isolate principals by emphasizing individualism, patriarchy, and management, thus maintaining separation between school leaders…

The Dissertation in Practice was conducted as a collaborative group as required by the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program. Although researchers have established the benefits of principals of color, there is a stark shortage in the pipeline, much of which is because of the oppressive experiences they have in K-12 education as leaders. In…

Novice public-school principals face tremendous external pressures (e.g., high-stakes accountability, market forces, legitimization) and internal pressures (e.g., identity (re)construction, identity verification, authenticity) in the enactment of their role as a novice principal. These pressures converge in the dissonance of competing values,…