Leading with heart and vision: Creating schools where every culture counts

Imagine a school where every child, teacher or parent feels seen, heard and appreciated. How would schools look if their cultures reflected the diversity of ideas, perspectives, ways of knowing and ways of doing of teachers, students and families? How effective would our schools be when every day is a celebration of our rich local culture combined with a deep appreciation of global realities and aspirations? Now, take a step back and imagine the opposite; a school that celebrates diversity in its ads and flyers but does not truly integrate it in policies and practices. How would teachers feel when they constantly try to create inclusive classrooms but realize that their leadership does not view that as a priority.

In my previous article, I urged teachers to take practical steps towards creating classroom spaces that celebrate the backgrounds, languages and cultures of all students. But this work cannot be done without the support of school leadership. Having been on both sides of the table, both a teacher and a school leader, I do realize that it is not that simple. School leaders are often very well-intentioned and sincere about enhancing student outcomes. What everyone needs to realize, however, is that enhancing outcomes only takes place when safe environments are created. It is not about how much of the curriculum is covered and whether assessments are completed at the end of each term or quarter. It is, instead, about connection, relationships and belonging. Simply put, effective schools are ones that address the needs of students holistically. In what follows, I offer a few suggestions to support school leaders in their pursuit of creating inclusive schools.

1. Leading with intent

It all starts with a clear vision, mission and a set of values. Commitment to equity and belonging goes beyond slogans. It starts with a sincere intention to learn about what equity and belonging mean in the specific context of a given school. Leaders need to first study their schools’ demographics, linguistic and cultural diversity. This should be followed by centering inclusion, equity and belonging in policies, school practices, professional development efforts and everyday operations.

2. Embarking on a whole school learning journey
Creating culturally inclusive schools is not an easy job. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to doing that. It is unique to each setting and specific to every school context. School leaders need to set the example of what life-long learning is to inspire and empower teachers and the whole school community. Continuous workshops need to be planned to help all members of the school community reflect on their biases and explore culturally sustaining strategies to meet the needs of all learners. Leaders, teachers, students and families should work collaboratively to shape school culture and policies.

3. Hiring and retaining talent strategically
When hiring school staff, it is important to employ inclusive hiring practices to create diverse teams. School leaders should look for teachers and school administrators who are linguistically, culturally and pedagogically diverse. Teaching staff need to represent the demographics of the students in our schools. Research has shown that students do better when taught by educators who understand their cultures and backgrounds. Students also need to see role models that look like them. Not only does that positively impact academic performance but it also aids in identity formation and development.

4. Enhancing curricular planning and implementation
With over 13 different types of curricula taught in the UAE, it is important that school leaders engage with teachers to audit and enhance curricular planning and implementation. In a country as diverse as the UAE, researchers urge for the need to integrate local culture and heritage with global goals and programs. School leaders are also responsible for helping teachers implement these programs in ways that extend beyond the classroom. Bulletin boards, assemblies, transdisciplinary projects and community-based learning are some strategies that can create culturally responsive spaces for all students.

5. Engaging families