Processes and Strategies School Leaders Are Using to Move Their Multicultural Schools toward Culturally Responsive Education

Abstract

The student population in American schools is becoming increasingly diverse; therefore, educators must respond with school reform efforts that benefit all students. However, there is a gap in the knowledge base and practice literatures addressing what specific processes and strategies successful school leaders are using to reform their culturally diverse schools. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory basic interpretive qualitative research study was to identify specific processes and strategies that successful school leaders used to move their schools toward culturally responsive education. Eight school leaders working in multicultural schools participated and shared their specific processes and strategies for school reform. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the eight school leaders. The constant comparative data analysis technique was used to analyze the data that emerged from the semistructured interviews. School leaders moving their schools toward culturally responsive education face a myriad of challenges, such as educating students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, democratic school leaders who engaged their students, parents, and communities by developing processes and strategies that addressed their specific needs are efficacious in successfully moving their schools toward culturally responsive education. The study provides concrete examples of specific processes and strategies that school leaders can adopt as they attempt to move their schools toward culturally responsive education. The most significant implication inferred from this study was that school leaders develop effective processes and strategies that successfully reform their schools because they sincerely love all children and they believe all children are capable of learning if given an equal opportunity to excel. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone [phone]. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]