Leading Schools While Black and Female: The Intersectionality of Race, Gender and Leadership
- ISBN-10
- ISBN-13
- 9798352697917
- Category
- African American school principals
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2022
- Author
- Kimberly J. Martin
Description
Eight Black women school leaders in the District of Columbia Public Schools met monthly from January 2022 to May 2022 in an affinity group to share their lived experiences and to create stronger bonds and networks across schools. DCPS is a unique incubator to study the leadership experiences of Black women, as the percentage of Black women principals in DCPS is more than 9 times the national average. DCPS has been touted as the fastest improving urban school district, and much of that success can be attributed to the leadership practices of Black women principals. Research shows that Black women principal's leadership practices have adirect and positive impact on the student achievement of all students, but especially Black children. However, due to their intersectional identities, Black women face significant challenges with being recruited for leadership positions in school, with marinating those positions once hired, and with processing and responding to the discrimination they face as leaders in positions of authority. Four major themes emerged from the data collection of the affinity group: Bondingand Support among Black Women, Processing and Responding to Discrimination, Gentrificationand Centering the Needs of Black Children, and Work/Live Balance and Self-Care.
