Leading Change Through The Lens Of Cultural Proficiency

"Leading Change through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency is rooted in the proven tools of Cultural Proficiency and a case study of an actual P-12 school district that contended with its own approach to teaching and valuing students of diverse backgrounds. Using vignettes focused on community engagement, leadership, implementation frameworks, and collaborative professional learning communities, the authors demonstrate and recommend organizational changes necessary for uncovering and remedying inequities like those described above. The book is designed to support school leaders in developing policies and fostering practices that respond to the educational and social needs of all students"--

This powerful third edition offers fresh approaches that enable school leaders to engage in effective interactions with students, educators, and the communities they serve.

Our students’ futures depend upon it: If we’re to guarantee equitable access and improved academic outcomes for our historically underserved students, then we must first confront the deeply rooted biases and practices that for far too long have limited them. That’s where Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders has already benefited tens of thousands of schools leaders--and the students, teachers, and communities they serve. Cultural Proficiency helps us all establish a mindset and worldview for effectively describing and responding to inequities. Its inside-outside approach to leadership is grounded in the assumption that honest introspection is a requirement to leading equity-driven change. And now, with updated content, new case studies, expanded vignettes, new activities and study guides, and an updated matrix, this fourth edition is more urgently needed than ever. What leaders love most is the way Cultural Proficiency lays the groundwork for powerful organizational growth with resources to: Engage colleagues in collaborative dialogue about creating powerful teaching and learning environments Recognize and respond to both individual and group differences to break down barriers Use the Cultural Proficiency Continuum to assess the limitations of school practices and identify opportunities to shift the culture Take this first step on the Cultural Proficiency journey and soon enough you, too, can create equitable educational opportunities and more inclusive environments in which differences are embraced. “This book is a riveting and unparalleled resource for all educational merchants of hope. . . . The insights, learning strategies, and professional development structures in this edition illuminate a path for all leaders to successfully commit to the journey of being equity champions!” --Dr. Erick E. Witherspoon, National Director of Equity Professional Development Services Generation Ready “There is no greater honor than to have one’s professional work become the inspiration for a new way of thinking, and transformative literature and action that change the world for schools and the children and youth they serve. I am grateful that the ideas have been so skillfully brought to scale by these authors.” --Dr. Terry L. Cross, MSW, Founder and Senior Advisor National Indian Child Welfare Association

Embark on a journey toward cultural proficiency that results in professional growth and organizational change! This powerful third edition offers fresh approaches, a revised organization, and new activities that enable leaders to engage in effective interactions with students, educators, and the communities they serve. The authors meticulously provide information gathered from their experiences working with schools, educational agencies, and organizations across the United States and Canada and show how school leaders can: Gain a personal understanding of what cultural proficiency means in practice Use collaborative activities to effect change in a school Lead a learning community toward becoming a culturally proficient organization

Becoming a culturally proficient leader requires the kind of courage, clarity, and insight that can only come from looking inward first. It’s a personal learning journey of will and skill, and if you’re up to the challenge, one that will change how you see your school, your students, and yourself as you build your own cultural competence. Consider this second edition of Culturally Proficient Leadershipyour personal road map for navigating that journey. Each chapter of Culturally Proficient Leadership invites you to put your experiences up front and challenges you to reframe your story based on multiple viewpoints—now, notably, with the addition of new coauthors Delores Lindsey and Eloise Kemp Terrell, who have their own remarkable stories and insight to share. Overall, all four authors will help you answer the critical question “Is what we say what we do?” utilizing the tools of Cultural Proficiency to engage in Reflections and Cultural Interviews to explore what you learn about those who are culturally different from you develop a Cultural Autobiography to provide a picture of the cultural memberships that have influenced who you are as a person use the Cultural Proficiency Continuum to examine your progress as a leader in serving your students and communities prepare an intentional Leadership Plan that summarizes your journey from Cultural Precompetence to Cultural Proficiency The central “inside-out” premise of Cultural Proficiency is that engaging in deep introspection around one’s personal beliefs, values, and behaviors in response to human differences is the first step toward systemic educational reform. We invite you to embark on this journey of self-awareness, of moral courage, and of the life-affirming power of human diversity. “I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together—unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and may not come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction: toward a better future for our children and our grandchildren.” —Barack Obama, Los Angeles Times, 2008

Over the past twenty years, a shifting demographic in schools has created the need to view and lead them through a culturally proficient and equitable lens. School leaders, however, remain short-changed on the preparation time needed to address important issues that surpass the narrow lens of content and instruction. This study used a qualitative approach to address the dearth of research surrounding this topic by examining current high-school leaders’ perspectives on facilitating professional development and leading equitable outcomes for their schools based on three key questions focused on the knowledge base, qualifications, empowerment, and support from district-level leadership. The research setting and participants were high school principals from Greater Philadelphia and Pennsylvania suburban public schools. The framework of the study was designed to identify and understand the relationships between these school leaders, their professional learning, their barriers to change, and their empowerment and motivation to lead it based on cultural competence and equity. An electronic closed-ended survey and semi-structured interviews with the participants provided vital data points for analysis and the development of themes. Data analysis revealed that many school leaders asked to lead the charge for change are either unprepared, underprepared, or not supported. The findings in this study could lead to change in how building-level leaders approach this work and the level of support required to do it effectively. Future research could include an analysis of post-graduate administrative programs implementing cultural proficiency and equity leadership as crucial competence areas and the impact of the integration of diversity and equity-specific leadership positions on building leadership.

The authors of this updated edition of a bestseller invite you to reflect on how you influence your students and collaborate with your colleagues.

′The authors′ masterful developmental process leads you to a place of social responsibility, which is so critical for the mosaic that defines education today. From parents to superintendents, everyone connected to schools needs to take this journey.′ùRosemary Papa, Del and Jewell Lewis Chair of Learner-Centered LeadershipNorthern Arizona University′Provides an opportunity for individual reflection as opposed to a more social network of exploration. The idea of a cultural autobiography is compelling and necessary for people to truly extend their journey of understanding themselves and others.′ùDenise Seguine, Chief Academic OfficerWichita Public Schools, KSGain the personal insight you need to promote equity in your school!With schools becoming increasingly diverse, educational leaders are finding that cultural proficiencyùthe ability to understand and respect studentsÆ cultural dignityùis a crucial component of developing high-performing schools. Culturally Proficient Leadership provides a step-by-step approach for creating a cultural autobiography to help educators reflect on their underlying beliefs, assumptions, and backgrounds. Written by highly respected experts in education and diversity, this interactive resource:Addresses a broad range of differences relevant to today′s schools, including race, ethnicity, national origin, language, gender, social class, sexual orientation, faith, and abilityFeatures compelling first-person narratives from the authors′ own cross-cultural journeysIncludes reflective questions and prompts to guide readers in examining how their cultural experiences influence their leadership practiceBy embarking on a journey of self-discovery, leaders at all levels can develop essential skills for communicating and collaborating across cultures.