Equity Leadership Informed by Community Cultural Wealth: Counterstories of Latinx School Administrators

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is (a) to analyze how Latinx school administrators draw on their Community Cultural Wealth to inform their leadership for educational equity and (b) to examine how they navigate varying equity initiatives and beliefs in rapidly diversifying districts. Research Method: This study employs Latina/o Critical Race Theory counterstorytelling methodology to explore four Latinx school administrators’ experiences across three districts in the Pacific Northwest. Data sources include semistructured interviews, observations, and local demographic data. Findings: Latinx administrators’ counterstories revealed complex ways their childhoods, educational histories, and current equity leadership were informed by their Community Cultural Wealth as bilingual people of color. They also faced White dominant administrative spaces, where their equity visions often conflicted with district equity initiatives. Sometimes these differences led to tensions with district officials or constrained their advocacy. Conclusion and Implications: Our findings affirm existing research on the potential equity and culturally responsive leadership contributions of Latinx educational leaders. Our article also raises questions to the field about how we understand social justice leadership, and support current and aspiring leaders of color who seek to promote equity in their work. Our analysis brought forth a particular geographical region as a key in influencing our research participants’ experiences. More research is needed to understand how to support and sustain leaders of color in diverse regional contexts, as they seek to combat educational inequities for children and young adults facing similar injustices they faced themselves as students of color.