Sustaining Education Leaders of Color

“I hope that after engaging in this conversation, folks are thinking about the systemic work that needs to be done. It is not just left to the principal to figure out how she can decompress and do self-care. There are real systemic gaps and challenges that will continuously make her job unbearable. And so, what can we do to lighten that load to mitigate some of those barriers?” – Dr. Erin Browder

Research shows effective and supported education leaders, particularly principals, can have a significant impact on student achievement outcomes. Their impact is schoolwide. How can we best support them?

In this episode, host Danny Torres and Dr. Erin Browder, Senior Program Associate at WestEd, discuss the pressing and enduring needs of leaders of color and the work the education community must do to address the systemic inequities that threaten leaders’ health and well-being.

Their conversation touches upon the following topics:

• The important difference between retaining and sustaining leaders of color
• Common inequities leaders of color face every day
• What is necessary to create equitable systems accountability and change
• Why everyone benefits from addressing systemic inequities
• The significance of culturally affirming environments

Dr. Browder provides technical assistance and project design for K–12 initiatives. Her work focuses on trauma-informed topics, school improvement, systems change, leadership development, social-emotional learning, and culturally responsive and equity-centered approaches to promote safe and supportive schools.

Dr. Browder also provides technical assistance for the national Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, federally funded comprehensive centers (Region 2 and Region 15), and regional educational laboratories (REL West and REL-NEI).

WestEd works with schools, districts, and states to build capacity to develop and implement anti-racist, equity-focused policies and practices that lead to transformative, systemwide change. Learn more about our Systemic Equity Review work.

Transcript

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Center for Black Educator Development
• Leading Voices Episode 1: Adult Well-Being and Creating a Culture of Care

You can find Dr. Browder on Twitter at @erintheeducator or send a message online at Wested.org/personnel/erin-browder.