Research on social justice leadership points out that in order to educate all students, school leaders committed to the just rights of others are the kind of leaders our schools need. Yet few research studies have highlighted the affects placed upon those school leaders who engage in reorienting the school institution toward more inclusive practices. Peters (2012) looked at the reform efforts of two black women school principals. The study reveals how the efforts of those two school leaders to implement school reform in their schools were made difficult by several factors—state accountability, the lack of resource support from the district, and the difficulty in building community engagement—leading to their sense of “burnout.”
The three participants …show more content…
Johnson refers to it as a “crazy” time. Johnson alludes to the pressure being so intense that leaving would be possibility. She states, “I don’t know if it is like that in other places, but I don’t know if anybody understands what principals in urban settings . . . what they really . . . the amount of pressure that exist.” Dr. Johnson finds herself questioning whether people comprehend the pressure that principals also face in today’s high-stakes accountability environment. Just like teachers, school principals, are confronted with the pressures of test scores. Recognizing this pressure, then, Dr. Johnson makes the following …show more content…
. . a chance in hell if they were in another building, of being fed, of being cared for, of being respected, I . . . it wouldn’t bother me to leave.
By her own admission, Edwards understands that her work to improve the lives of her students’ conflicts with the test scores demanded by her district. Indeed, she points that she may be asked to “leave” soon. Nevertheless, in the face of the (real) possibility of the loss of her job, Edwards remains committed to her own beliefs. Finally, Dr. Johnson, when asked about her relationship with parents, she discusses the quandary she has encountered as a school leader in her school. She perceives that some parents are reluctant to establish trust because some parents perceive Dr. Johnson as representing “the system.” She states,
There are still a group of parents that may not trust you, because I represent the establishment, I represent the system, I represent that whiteness, white privilege, even though I am a black person, they see me as being some how different from
The three participants …show more content…
Johnson refers to it as a “crazy” time. Johnson alludes to the pressure being so intense that leaving would be possibility. She states, “I don’t know if it is like that in other places, but I don’t know if anybody understands what principals in urban settings . . . what they really . . . the amount of pressure that exist.” Dr. Johnson finds herself questioning whether people comprehend the pressure that principals also face in today’s high-stakes accountability environment. Just like teachers, school principals, are confronted with the pressures of test scores. Recognizing this pressure, then, Dr. Johnson makes the following …show more content…
. . a chance in hell if they were in another building, of being fed, of being cared for, of being respected, I . . . it wouldn’t bother me to leave.
By her own admission, Edwards understands that her work to improve the lives of her students’ conflicts with the test scores demanded by her district. Indeed, she points that she may be asked to “leave” soon. Nevertheless, in the face of the (real) possibility of the loss of her job, Edwards remains committed to her own beliefs. Finally, Dr. Johnson, when asked about her relationship with parents, she discusses the quandary she has encountered as a school leader in her school. She perceives that some parents are reluctant to establish trust because some parents perceive Dr. Johnson as representing “the system.” She states,
There are still a group of parents that may not trust you, because I represent the establishment, I represent the system, I represent that whiteness, white privilege, even though I am a black person, they see me as being some how different from