Principal Leadership for Racial Equity

Candace Raskin, Ed. D., served as an educational leader in Minnesota public schools for 18 years as a superintendent; director of curriculum, instruction and assessment; middle school and elementary principal; and high-potential coordinator. Her research on developing racially conscious leadership has been recognized nationally and is published in numerous scholarly journals. She currently provides leadership and teaches in the administrative licensure graduate program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Twin Cities location. She also teaches doctoral courses and advises doctoral students as a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership. She is the co-founder and facilitator of the Institute for Courageous Principal Leadership. Melissa Krull, Ph.D., has an extensive background serving in leadership capacities at a 10,000-student school district for 20 years, 10 of which were spent as superintendent. Her recent work includes leadership teaching and research toward the elimination of racial achievement disparities. She has served as a keynote speaker, panelist, and presenter for various organizations and universities, including Georgetown Law Center and The U.S. White House. Dr. Krull is the co-author of a chapter in More Courageous Conversations: From Theory to Practice (2012). She currently teaches graduate courses in the administrative licensure graduate program and advises doctoral students through the department of Educational Leadership at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Twin Cities location. She is the co-founder and facilitator of the Institute for Courageous Principal Leadership. Antonia Felix, Ed.D., MFA, is the author of 23 books including biographies of Senator Elizabeth Warren, Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, NATO Commander Wesley Clark, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She has taught literature, writing, and seminars on public intellectuals at the college level, and her academic research focuses on the use of expressive writing to develop racial consciousness and process race-related stress and trauma.

List of Figures Foreword Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction Part I. Developing Racial Consciousness Chapter 1. Developing Myself as a Racially Conscious Leader Chapter 2. Discovering My "Why" Chapter 3. Research Reality Check Chapter 4. Racism at Work Chapter 5. Understanding My School/District Part II. Integrating Knowledge Into Practice Chapter 6. A Principal's Critical Duty Chapter 7. Ensuring Racially Conscious Pedagogy Chapter 8. The State of Things Chapter 9. Good Trouble Index Learning from Mentors: Living the Theory of Action by Josh Fraser Learning from Mentors: Living the Theory of Action by Kirk Morris Learning from Mentors: Responding to Disaster by Isabel Rodriguez Learning from Mentors: The Value of Racial Affinity Groups by Nan Yurecko Learning from Mentors: Instruction that Supports Student Pride, Place, and Potential by Nasreen Fynewever Learning from Mentors: Looking in the Mirror: Michael Walker's Advice to Principals by Michael Walker Learning from Mentors: Transforming Instruction by Silvy Un Lafayette and Jessica Busse

"Principal Leadership for Racial Equity offers readers a theory of action surrounding the role we must take in our schools and districts to support our next generation learners. Implicit biases must be eradicated in order for each student to reach their own limitless potential. The authors provide clear examples, anecdotes, insights, and research to support a paradigm shift that will support learners and their overall achievement. Now is the time, the space, and the place to ensure that our youth thrive." -- Dr. Jill Gildea "Principal Leadership for Racial Equity: A Field Guide for Developing Racial Consciousness in School Principals provides tools and reflection for all leaders in education to begin to become true agents of change in our schools and more importantly come to grips with their own biases so that we see more commonalities. This book will allow us to lean into discomfort and become more human." -- Elizabeth Alvarez "Principal Leadership for Racial Equity: A Field Guide for Developing Racial Consciousness in School Principals is a thoughtful, well written book that is current, relevant, and needed for now and the future. I strongly recommend this book for current and aspiring administrators. The book would be an excellent resource for a book study or a graduate course. I am eager to share this book with my colleagues and administrators I mentor. This book will be a valuable addition to my professional library." -- Shelley Joan Weiss "At this critical juncture in which the deleterious impact of race is so profoundly apparent in our schools, Krull, Raskin and Felix have provided us with an epistemological tour de force . Research, evidence, strategies and practices have been blended into a vital metanarrative from which leaders can mindfully inspire and instill in staff the racial consciousness needed to confidently enable students of color to demonstrate their innate propensity for high intellectual performances, self-determination and personal agency." -- Yvette Jackson "The authors of Principal Leadership for Racial Equity mince no words and address head on the brass tacks issues that need to be confronted if American education is going to make any headway related to respecting and valuing every human being as a human being regardless of race, ethnicity, background, or any other factor. In the current political and social environment, this issue is more important than ever. This book expands on, differentiates itself from and is more direct than any other publications out right now on how to go about leadership equity work." -- Karen L. Tichy, Ed.D "I only wish that this book had been available during my service in public schools - as a principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. I would recommend that all leaders and educators who are interested in creating an environment of true understanding and equity utilize this text as the foundation for intentional professional learning, reflection and committed action. As a leadership coach, this book will be an invaluable resource. Principal Leadership for Racial Equity is a gift- to both adults and more importantly students!" -- Lynn Macan "Lights! Camera! Action! Inequities in education for students of color are now in focus and Principal Leadership for Racial Equity addresses the actions to be taken to make sure all students are successful." -- Laura Schaffer Metcalfe, Ed.D. "The timing for Principal Leadership for Racial Equity is perfect and the structure of this book will best support leaders address issues we all face in the field." -- Cathy Sosnowski "Leading for equity requires deep personal reflection, courage, and skill. This book provides tools and resources to tap into all three. Reading and completing the exercises within this book provide a platform for knowing yourself and developing that knowledge into a set of behaviors and actions that create equitable conditions within your school or organization. Leaders who are continually growing in their confidence to do what is just and their ability to guide whole communities of practice in this work will want to learn from the experience and expertise of these authors. It will make a positive difference in the lives of the students and families in their schools." -- Shannon Hobbs-Beckley "Principal Leadership for Racial Equity prompts deep personal reflection and goes beyond the 'surface' level work to get to the focus of this work. This topic can be a 'courageous' undertaking and this book provides the tools and personal reflection needed to truly engage in order to interrupt the cycle of practices that do not work for all students. It is not good enough to focus on success for most students - we need to focus on equity for all students!" -- Lena Marie Rockwood, Ed. D. "Understanding and developing racial consciousness with principals is critical and a focus of many Boards today. Principal Leadership for Racial Equity provides practical, realistic, and useful guidance by working readers through a series of chapters intended to develop racial consciousness and provide administrators with the tools to start work in schools. The activities engage the reader in each chapter to uncover bias and develop an understanding with the matter. The reflection questions in the chapter also provide additional learning, and are especially useful when engaged in learning with a group." -- Maryam Hasan "This book offers a compelling message of hope and steps towards inclusion for school administrators and district leaders in addressing racial equality. This book engages in discussion and actions that move from an idea to implementation. It is a practical guide to implement a system in a manner that is conducive to enhancing the culture and performance of the organization." -- Debra Paradowski