"There's a Camel in My Office" Nurturing Agents of Transformation: Equipping School Leaders to Combat Systemic Racism and Oppression and Foster Inclusive Communities

Author

Jamila Magdalena Maliha, Western UniversityFollow

Date of Submission

8-27-2024

Document Type

DiP

Degree

Doctor of Education

Department

Education

Keywords

systemic racism, culturally responsive leadership, transformative leadership, marginalized students, social change, critical race theory

Abstract

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation in practice (DiP) explores the critical problem of practice wherein school administrators, primarily identifying with the predominant white culture, lack the requisite equitable leadership capacity to address systemic racism within their schools and the district. The perpetuation of systemic racism in schools leads to inequitable outcomes among marginalized students. Grounded in CRT and culturally responsive leadership frameworks, this DiP seeks to identify the barriers hindering administrators from enacting meaningful change and to propose an organizational plan to enhance their capacity for equitable leadership. Utilizing a transformative leadership approach combined with aspects of distributed and collaborative leadership, the change path model serves as the basis for the recommended changes. Rooted in current research, the preferred solution, based on the Name, Own, Frame, Sustain framework, has the potential for great success in Wolf District School Board (WDSB). This DiP highlights the complex interplay of personal beliefs, institutional structures, and societal norms shaping administrators’ approaches to leadership and equity. This DiP highlights practices for cultivating culturally responsive leadership, including ongoing professional development, critical self-reflection, and collaborative partnerships with community members. By illuminating the barriers to equitable leadership and proposing actionable recommendations, this DiP contributes to the broader discourse on educational equity and social justice. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, educational leaders, and practitioners seeking to dismantle systemic racism and create more inclusive learning environments for all students.

Recommended Citation

Maliha, J. M. (2024). "There's a Camel in My Office" Nurturing Agents of Transformation: Equipping School Leaders to Combat Systemic Racism and Oppression and Foster Inclusive Communities. The Organizational Improvement Plan at Western University, 453. Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/oip/453