Leading Change Through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency: An Equitable Approach to Race and Social Class in Our Schools

The pathway to uncovering and dismantling inequities

Educational leaders that 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 roadmap 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.