Walking the Equity Talk

John Robert Browne II - Browne and Associates

Other Titles in:
Achievement of Minority Students | Leadership | Social Justice

August 2012 | 408 pages | Corwin

Since the beginning of the 21st century, government at the federal and state levels has tried to dramatically increase accountability for the academic outcomes of all students, as exemplified by education legislation and funding mandates. One result has been major reforms in the preparation and professional development of educational leaders. Nevertheless, the disparities in student educational outcomes have persisted despite changes in funding priorities and school/leadership reforms. This practical guide is designed help increase the consciousness, willingness, and political savvy of all adult school community stakeholders to successfully implement equity reforms. It proposes a bold, new leadership paradigmùCulturally Courageous Leadershipùthat facilitates the adoption of the values, beliefs, attitudes and skills needed to achieve equitable educational outcomes.

List of Figures, Charts, and Vignettes

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction to the Guide

Section I: Leadership for Equitable Outcomes--It Takes an Entire Community

1. Identity, Teaching, and Learning

2. The Absence of Cultural Democracy

3. Grim Continuities

4. Rhetoric vs. Reality

5. Biases

6. Barriers

Section II: Culturally Courageous Leadership--A Paradigm for Contemporary Realities

7. A New Paradigm for the 21st Century

8. Seven Principles

9. Transformation and Politics

10. Stakeholder Practices

11. Promising Departures

12. Two Leadership Profiles

Section III: Making It Real

13. Defusing the Political Landmines

14. Three Equity Warriors

15. Practicing the "Equity Walk"

16. The Time Is Here, the Time Is Now

Appendix 1: Facilitator Notes for Chapters 1 Through 15

Appendix 2: Culturally Courageous Leadership Diagnostic Questionnaires

References

Index

"If your work environment challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone, this book will help you to be successful there. It is relatively easy to be a leader when everyone sees one another through the same cultural lens. John Browne helps you to develop the understanding, attitudes, and behaviors of a leader who cares about results and seeks to engage effectively with the people who will deliver them. In this book you will be challenged, inspired, and encouraged as you work to become a culturally courageous leader."

Kikanza J. Nuri-Robins

Coauthor of Cultural Proficiency and Culturally Proficient Instruction

"John Browne makes an important contribution to the conversation about educational leadership for equity, presenting us with the inescapable challenge of becoming culturally courageous. Browne's work provides valuable insights into the complexity of the issues educational leaders must confront to create more equitable schools. He partners these insights with pragmatic, strategic approaches so that we might all be more culturally courageous leaders."

Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Associate Professor

San Francisco State University

“This sorely needed book is an invaluable source of ideas, strategies, and insights for new, future, and practicing administrators who are interested in pursuing an equity agenda for their schools and districts.”

Sonia Nieto, Professor Emerita

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"Browne adds unique perspectives toward 'equity capacity building' for educational leaders and institutions in better meeting the learning needs of underachieving students of color and poverty, including compelling real-life examples of culturally courageous leadership, an impressive blend of theory and practice, and an analytical style that is action-focused."

Geneva Gay, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction

University of Washington

"Equity warriors everywhere will find this useful resource packed with effective strategies, user-friendly processes, and helpful tools."

Jennifer Frentress, Director of Teaching and Learning

Forest Grove School District, OR

"Browne answers practitioners’ 'So what?' and 'What now?' questions that arise after analyzing data. I highly recommend this book for teachers, counselors, site and district administrators, parents, and any other stakeholders interested in using data as a tool to identify gaps in access and opportunities for success in school and beyond."

Tonia Causey-Bush, Director of Research, Evaluation, and Accountability

CAHSEE Intensive Instruction and Services Program, Rialto Unified School District, CA