Culturally Responsive Leadership in School

Mary E. Streshly has a Ph.D. in educational leadership from San Francisco State University. As the executive director of educational services in the San Mateo County Office of Education, Dr. Mary Streshly provides senior leadership and instructional training in various fields, including cultural responsiveness.

Cultural responsiveness in education refers to a teaching approach that acknowledges, respects, and values the cultural diversity of students. A culturally responsive leader seeks to create an equitable, inclusive, and culturally appropriate learning environment for all students, regardless of their color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, language, and ability.

Education leaders and instructors who lack cultural competency may fail to effectively provide classroom instruction due to their own biases and discrimination patterns. As such, academic institutions and state and federal leaders should take key measures to help educators and schools to become culturally responsive and competent.

For instance, senior-level educational leaders should strive to develop a partnership between school staff and district or county leadership to explore issues such as culturally responsive practice and pedagogy, equitable student opportunities, school environment, and authentic community and family engagements. They should also be aware of the impact of discrimination and cultural racism in school and endeavor to cultivate strong leadership in the district and within the school to create and sustain the required cultural and instructional changes.