Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency

An Equitable Approach to Race and Social Class in Our Schools
Jaime E. Welborn - Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Tamika Casey - San Bernardino City Unified School District, California, USA
Keith T. Myatt - California State University, Dominguez Hills, USA
Randall B. Lindsey - California State University Los Angeles, USA
Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency
December 2021 | 416 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781071823668
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ISBN: 9781071823699
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Description

The pathway to uncovering and dismantling inequities

Educational leaders who work in the district, site, or classroom level know that opportunity gaps have long been a focus of education policy in the United States. Leadership can be a critical lever for advancing policies that oppose racism and confront systemic inequities. In meeting this challenge, educators have found that acknowledging beliefs and behaviors is critical. Still, deficit-based thinking, especially due to privilege, remains a barrier to equity. Among the most damaging blind spots is the continuation of practices that are grounded in the values of entitled groups.

Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency tells the story of a school community in the midwest United States that contended with its approach to teaching and valuing students of diverse backgrounds. Featuring the research-based Cultural Proficiency Framework and Tools, the book provides a clear road map to advancing equity across schools and districts. Designed to support leaders and school communities in developing policies and practices that respond to the needs of all students, this book

  • Guides school leaders in a journey of learning the theory and strategies that improved student achievement and improved the working conditions in this district
  • Features a real-life case study of a school community using the Tools of Cultural Proficiency and the Framework
  • Provides vignettes and data, based on work conducted across an actual school district, that resulted in improvements in school climate, achievement, mindset, and equitable educational practices
  • Includes powerful reflection, dialogic, and action activities for use in a variety of community learning modalities
  • Is grounded in assets-based assumptions with respect to students, families, and the school community

With a focus on engagement, leadership, implementation frameworks, and collaborative learning, the authors demonstrate how to uncover and remedy inequities. Designed for education leaders at all levels of the education system, this is the ideal foundational text for implementing Cultural Proficiency in your setting as you open doors for all students to thrive.

Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

Part I: School Leadership: Educational Debt, Race, Social Class, and Change

  • 1. Leading Equity Starts With “Why”
  • Calibration
  • Why You?
  • Why District and School Leadership?
  • Why Cultural Proficiency?
  • Why Race and Social Class?
  • Why Do We Even Have to Consider Our "Why"?
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 2. The Cultural Proficiency Framework: Research and Planning
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Planning, Research, and Cultural Proficiency
  • The Framework and Tools of Cultural Proficiency
  • A Case Study: Narratives as Illustrations of an Organizational Change Process Using the Tools of Cultural Proficiency
  • Inquiry: A Guide for Leading Organizational Change Toward Equity, Access, and Inclusion
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 3. The Intersectionality of Race and Social Class
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Intersectionality of Race and Social Class
  • A Word About Nomenclature: Words Matter
  • Theoretical Frameworks
  • Race and Social Class in Education
  • Opportunity, Access, and Educational Gaps
  • Equity by Whatever Means It Takes
  • Today’s Inequities
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 4. Individual and Organizational Change Leadership
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Leading the Change
  • Identification
  • Culturally Proficient Leadership for System Transformation
  • Being Present and Involved in the Work
  • Foundational Leadership Research on the Case of Eaveston
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination

Part II: The Framework of Cultural Proficiency

  • 5. Overcoming Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Stories from Eaveston
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Overcoming Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Identifying Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Acknowledging and Overcoming Barriers
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 6. Relying on Our Inclusive Core Values; The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency for Organizational Change
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Relying on the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • Turning Inward and Relying on the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • Eaveston’s Reliance on the Guiding Principles
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 7. Telling Our Stories and Changing the Conversations: The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • Stories from Eaveston
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • Eaveston’s Voices
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 8. Committing to Standards of Equity-Focused Change Through Improvement and Growth with the Essential Elements
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Essential Elements Guide Development of a Transformational Equity Action Plan
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination

Part III: Commitment to Planning, Collaboration, Growth, and Improvement

  • 9. Implementation: Planning for Challenges Along the Journey
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Challenges of Implementation and Sustainability
  • Preparing for the Challenges of the Journey
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 10. Lessons Learned and Recommendations for School Leaders
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Recommendations for School Leaders
  • Diverse Family and Community Engagement
  • Professional Learning Communities
  • Continuous School Improvement
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 11. Implementation and Sustainability: Commitment to Action Planning
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to a Commitment to Learning, Planning, and Ensuring Equity
  • Commitment to Learning and Action Planning
  • Strategic Planning for Implementation and Sustainability
  • Transformational Action Planning
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 12. Sustainability: Commitment to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
  • Cultural Proficiency Policy to Practice
  • Building the Critical Mass
  • Race, Social Class, and Cultural Proficiency: Ensuring Equity for All

Resources

Resources

References

References

Description

The pathway to uncovering and dismantling inequities

Educational leaders who work in the district, site, or classroom level know that opportunity gaps have long been a focus of education policy in the United States. Leadership can be a critical lever for advancing policies that oppose racism and confront systemic inequities. In meeting this challenge, educators have found that acknowledging beliefs and behaviors is critical. Still, deficit-based thinking, especially due to privilege, remains a barrier to equity. Among the most damaging blind spots is the continuation of practices that are grounded in the values of entitled groups.

Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency tells the story of a school community in the midwest United States that contended with its approach to teaching and valuing students of diverse backgrounds. Featuring the research-based Cultural Proficiency Framework and Tools, the book provides a clear road map to advancing equity across schools and districts. Designed to support leaders and school communities in developing policies and practices that respond to the needs of all students, this book

  • Guides school leaders in a journey of learning the theory and strategies that improved student achievement and improved the working conditions in this district
  • Features a real-life case study of a school community using the Tools of Cultural Proficiency and the Framework
  • Provides vignettes and data, based on work conducted across an actual school district, that resulted in improvements in school climate, achievement, mindset, and equitable educational practices
  • Includes powerful reflection, dialogic, and action activities for use in a variety of community learning modalities
  • Is grounded in assets-based assumptions with respect to students, families, and the school community

With a focus on engagement, leadership, implementation frameworks, and collaborative learning, the authors demonstrate how to uncover and remedy inequities. Designed for education leaders at all levels of the education system, this is the ideal foundational text for implementing Cultural Proficiency in your setting as you open doors for all students to thrive.

Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

About the Authors

Part I: School Leadership: Educational Debt, Race, Social Class, and Change

  • 1. Leading Equity Starts With “Why”
  • Calibration
  • Why You?
  • Why District and School Leadership?
  • Why Cultural Proficiency?
  • Why Race and Social Class?
  • Why Do We Even Have to Consider Our "Why"?
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 2. The Cultural Proficiency Framework: Research and Planning
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Planning, Research, and Cultural Proficiency
  • The Framework and Tools of Cultural Proficiency
  • A Case Study: Narratives as Illustrations of an Organizational Change Process Using the Tools of Cultural Proficiency
  • Inquiry: A Guide for Leading Organizational Change Toward Equity, Access, and Inclusion
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 3. The Intersectionality of Race and Social Class
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Intersectionality of Race and Social Class
  • A Word About Nomenclature: Words Matter
  • Theoretical Frameworks
  • Race and Social Class in Education
  • Opportunity, Access, and Educational Gaps
  • Equity by Whatever Means It Takes
  • Today’s Inequities
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 4. Individual and Organizational Change Leadership
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Leading the Change
  • Identification
  • Culturally Proficient Leadership for System Transformation
  • Being Present and Involved in the Work
  • Foundational Leadership Research on the Case of Eaveston
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination

Part II: The Framework of Cultural Proficiency

  • 5. Overcoming Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Stories from Eaveston
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Overcoming Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Identifying Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Acknowledging and Overcoming Barriers
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 6. Relying on Our Inclusive Core Values; The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency for Organizational Change
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Relying on the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • Turning Inward and Relying on the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • Eaveston’s Reliance on the Guiding Principles
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 7. Telling Our Stories and Changing the Conversations: The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • Stories from Eaveston
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • Eaveston’s Voices
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 8. Committing to Standards of Equity-Focused Change Through Improvement and Growth with the Essential Elements
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Essential Elements Guide Development of a Transformational Equity Action Plan
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination

Part III: Commitment to Planning, Collaboration, Growth, and Improvement

  • 9. Implementation: Planning for Challenges Along the Journey
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Challenges of Implementation and Sustainability
  • Preparing for the Challenges of the Journey
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 10. Lessons Learned and Recommendations for School Leaders
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Recommendations for School Leaders
  • Diverse Family and Community Engagement
  • Professional Learning Communities
  • Continuous School Improvement
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 11. Implementation and Sustainability: Commitment to Action Planning
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to a Commitment to Learning, Planning, and Ensuring Equity
  • Commitment to Learning and Action Planning
  • Strategic Planning for Implementation and Sustainability
  • Transformational Action Planning
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 12. Sustainability: Commitment to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
  • Cultural Proficiency Policy to Practice
  • Building the Critical Mass
  • Race, Social Class, and Cultural Proficiency: Ensuring Equity for All

Resources

Resources

References

References

SAGE Publishing Logo

Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency

An Equitable Approach to Race and Social Class in Our Schools


December 2021 | 416 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/01/2025 9781071823699 $40.95
Lifetime 01/01/2025 9781071823668 $37.00

The pathway to uncovering and dismantling inequities

Educational leaders who work in the district, site, or classroom level know that opportunity gaps have long been a focus of education policy in the United States. Leadership can be a critical lever for advancing policies that oppose racism and confront systemic inequities. In meeting this challenge, educators have found that acknowledging beliefs and behaviors is critical. Still, deficit-based thinking, especially due to privilege, remains a barrier to equity. Among the most damaging blind spots is the continuation of practices that are grounded in the values of entitled groups.

Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency tells the story of a school community in the midwest United States that contended with its approach to teaching and valuing students of diverse backgrounds. Featuring the research-based Cultural Proficiency Framework and Tools, the book provides a clear road map to advancing equity across schools and districts. Designed to support leaders and school communities in developing policies and practices that respond to the needs of all students, this book

  • Guides school leaders in a journey of learning the theory and strategies that improved student achievement and improved the working conditions in this district
  • Features a real-life case study of a school community using the Tools of Cultural Proficiency and the Framework
  • Provides vignettes and data, based on work conducted across an actual school district, that resulted in improvements in school climate, achievement, mindset, and equitable educational practices
  • Includes powerful reflection, dialogic, and action activities for use in a variety of community learning modalities
  • Is grounded in assets-based assumptions with respect to students, families, and the school community

With a focus on engagement, leadership, implementation frameworks, and collaborative learning, the authors demonstrate how to uncover and remedy inequities. Designed for education leaders at all levels of the education system, this is the ideal foundational text for implementing Cultural Proficiency in your setting as you open doors for all students to thrive.


Table Of Contents:

  • Foreword
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • Part I: School Leadership: Educational Debt, Race, Social Class, and Change
  • 1. Leading Equity Starts With “Why”
  • Calibration
  • Why You?
  • Why District and School Leadership?
  • Why Cultural Proficiency?
  • Why Race and Social Class?
  • Why Do We Even Have to Consider Our "Why"?
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 2. The Cultural Proficiency Framework: Research and Planning
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Planning, Research, and Cultural Proficiency
  • The Framework and Tools of Cultural Proficiency
  • A Case Study: Narratives as Illustrations of an Organizational Change Process Using the Tools of Cultural Proficiency
  • Inquiry: A Guide for Leading Organizational Change Toward Equity, Access, and Inclusion
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 3. The Intersectionality of Race and Social Class
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Intersectionality of Race and Social Class
  • A Word About Nomenclature: Words Matter
  • Theoretical Frameworks
  • Race and Social Class in Education
  • Opportunity, Access, and Educational Gaps
  • Equity by Whatever Means It Takes
  • Today’s Inequities
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 4. Individual and Organizational Change Leadership
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Leading the Change
  • Identification
  • Culturally Proficient Leadership for System Transformation
  • Being Present and Involved in the Work
  • Foundational Leadership Research on the Case of Eaveston
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • Part II: The Framework of Cultural Proficiency
  • 5. Overcoming Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Stories from Eaveston
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Overcoming Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Identifying Barriers to Cultural Proficiency
  • Acknowledging and Overcoming Barriers
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to our Next Destination
  • 6. Relying on Our Inclusive Core Values; The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency for Organizational Change
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Relying on the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • Turning Inward and Relying on the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency
  • Eaveston’s Reliance on the Guiding Principles
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 7. Telling Our Stories and Changing the Conversations: The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • Stories from Eaveston
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • The Cultural Proficiency Continuum
  • Eaveston’s Voices
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 8. Committing to Standards of Equity-Focused Change Through Improvement and Growth with the Essential Elements
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to the Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency
  • The Essential Elements Guide Development of a Transformational Equity Action Plan
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • Part III: Commitment to Planning, Collaboration, Growth, and Improvement
  • 9. Implementation: Planning for Challenges Along the Journey
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Challenges of Implementation and Sustainability
  • Preparing for the Challenges of the Journey
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 10. Lessons Learned and Recommendations for School Leaders
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Recommendations for School Leaders
  • Diverse Family and Community Engagement
  • Professional Learning Communities
  • Continuous School Improvement
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 11. Implementation and Sustainability: Commitment to Action Planning
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to a Commitment to Learning, Planning, and Ensuring Equity
  • Commitment to Learning and Action Planning
  • Strategic Planning for Implementation and Sustainability
  • Transformational Action Planning
  • Looking in the Rearview Mirror
  • On to Our Next Destination
  • 12. Sustainability: Commitment to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
  • Calibration
  • On-Ramp to Ensuring Equitable Outcomes
  • Cultural Proficiency Policy to Practice
  • Building the Critical Mass
  • Race, Social Class, and Cultural Proficiency: Ensuring Equity for All
  • Resources
  • References

Recent Product Reviews:

The authors do an excellent job of making connections between theory and practice, providing clear guidance and examples of how to bridge the two. This book provides a practical tool that can be applied immediately to help principals assess the alignment of their plans with continually moving toward being a culturally proficient organization.
Jeff Ronneberg
Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency is a must-read for anyone in education who wants to be the voice of educational reform so that all students feel valued and are able to achieve success regardless of race and/or socioeconomic status.
Melissa Miller

Recommendations