Essay On Culturally Relevant Educational Leadership

Culturally Relevant Educational Leadership in Today’s World According to the United States Census Bureau, there is one international migrant entering the United States every thirty-two seconds (United States Census Bureau, 2015). For this reason, one can expect to see an increase among diversity in our education system. Particularly in certain areas, our schools have become more diverse than the foundations they were formed on. Because teachers are often on the front lines with our children, they are usually the focus of cultural competency. However, it is the administrators who serve as the leaders and role models for cultural competency. With a changing educational world, we are seeing more team based approaches, causing not only the teachers to be more aware of the cultural diversity in their classroom, but also the leaders in the school. They have the ability to lay a foundation for cultural responsibility within a district and within an area. For this reason, it is important that our leaders become more culturally responsive to the children in our education system. By opening up communication, directing instruction to focus on diversity, having positive attitudes

Using the differences to promote a more global classroom can be perceived in a positive light that exposes students to diversity within their schools, as well as exposes them to global concepts and understanding. When leaders are positive about certain things, that positive light becomes contagious among the school staff and community. According to Smith (2005), “They model the behaviors that they would like their staff to emulate. In doing so they value diversity by creating an inclusive environment and encouraging a variety of perspectives in the decision-making processes at the school” (p.