Leadership magazine Jan/Feb 2016 V45 No 3 | Page 14

Ensuring
social justice
and a diverse
and equitable
leadership
Education leaders
are charged with
meeting the needs
of all students, and
must understand the
difference between
diversity and equity.

14

Leadership

The essence of leadership for so-

cial justice and equity is “praxis,” that which
Brazilian educator Paulo Freire described as
“reflection and action upon the world in order
to transform it.” It is to do the right thing in
spite of the obvious barriers one encounters.
Transforming the educational system
through “intentional activism” indisputably
calls for courageous leadership. Although
it may be true that the term “courageous”
is frequently overused, it is accurate, in that
to do the right thing often calls for stepping
outside one’s comfort zone.
As an example, a well-known feature
among California State University schools
of education as teachers and future administrators are developed is to more thoroughly
address and celebrate the aspects of diversity, equity and social justice.
To truly teach and lead educational leaders in California is to develop a more diverse
leadership population, where students will
be assured of seeing leaders who look like

them. It is well said that children and young
adults consider the possibilities for themselves by the adults who are around them.
If they fail to see a diverse group of leaders,
especially as it pertains to leaders of color,
a minority majority student population will
also not take into consideration the positive
prospect for their future.
Many in society and educational leadership consider the recognition of leadership
diversity without equity as an appropriate
and sufficient act. It is not.
Currently there is an opportunity to engage in mutual discussion in order to arrive
at a new understanding of the process and
theory of educational leadership, diversity
and equity. The state of California and its
school districts must resolve to address the
issues of a lack of diversity and equity among
educational leadership.
Each day I share, with anyone who will
By Kenneth Magdaleno