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…

Research on the use of culturally relevant texts has shown the great benefits on students who are exposed to these types of texts (Feger, 2006; Ebe, 2010; Ebe, 2012; Delgado, 2021). Focus needs to be placed on the cultural backgrounds and experiences of the students so that they can become successful, and develop cultural competence and student…

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 dissertation examined Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) within California's educational system using a quantitative approach with qualitative insights (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016). The study, guided by two research questions, investigated the impacts of school leaders' demographics (race, gender, and experience) on their…

The purpose of this study was to understand the perspectives of northeastern suburban school leaders regarding the implementation of culturally responsive leadership practices. Three frameworks that guided this study were culturally responsive leadership, transformational leadership, and transformative leadership framework. There are bodies of…

There has been an increase in racial and other minority students in higher education in the US in the past two decades. Additionally, the socio-political events in the past couple of years have highlighted the racial injustice present in the institutional systems urging educators to re-assess diversity and inclusion in pedagogical approaches.…

There has been a growing concern in special education due to the under and overrepresentation of Multilingual Learners (MLLs) qualifying for special education services (National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2020). Due to this inequity, culturally and linguistically responsive practices such as district bilingual assessment teams are being…

This study explores obstacles to career advancement faced by black female staff in Higher education. Through interviews and surveys, key factors impacting this population are identified and a solution is proposed in the form of an action plan. Interviews exposed the issue of isolation, lack of support, and a need for early training for both…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how one Southern California elementary school approached family engagement for English learners (ELs) in a culturally proficient manner. School leaders are in unique positions to create cultures of success and inclusion for all students, especially for EL students. One of the best ways to…

International student enrollment at American higher education institutions has grown mostly unabated since tracking began in 1948, but has not been met with a corresponding investment in programming to assist students during their transition or their enrollment stateside. In the interest of providing better support to international students, this…

Social science and humanities researchers have long considered Appalachia a dynamic site for research. Within literacy education, scholars have called for continued critical literacy research within Appalachia, and to study the ways students' learning contexts can be designed to simultaneously support their comprehension, engagements with…

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…

Many African international students see two-year colleges as a pathway to higher education in the United States. It is critical to better understand who these students are, what draws them to two-year colleges, what support services are available, and how their needs are met. As African international students contribute to more robust, diverse,…

This phenomenological study investigated the impact of culturally proficient leadership behaviors on culturally diverse school populations and sought to identify culturally responsive practices used by culturally proficient school leaders. The research was conducted in a suburban Title I school district in California with a diverse student…