Culturally Responsive School Leadership Program
Building Equity-Driven School Leaders Through Real-World Simulations

This program offers pre-service and in-service school leaders a semester-long journey into Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) through digital simulations. Using insights from Azukas (2024) and Khalifa et al.’s CRSL framework, participants will develop key competencies like self-reflection, addressing systemic bias, culturally relevant instruction, and authentic family and community engagement. Each week includes simulations, reflection exercises, and debriefs to connect learning with real-world application, enabling leaders to build sustainable, equity-driven practices that positively impact school culture.

 


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How To Use This Program

This program offers a comprehensive, immersive approach to developing the skills necessary for fostering equitable, culturally responsive school environments and transforming leadership practices for lasting impact.

Start with the Basics (Weeks 1-2)

In Weeks 1-2, you’ll begin by understanding the fundamentals of Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL). You’ll explore the CRSL competencies and Khalifa et al.’s framework, which focuses on key areas like addressing bias, fostering equity, and engaging diverse communities. You’ll also participate in an icebreaker simulation to become familiar with the digital simulation platform.

Engage in Core Simulations (Weeks 3-8)

In Weeks 3-8, the focus will shift to a simulation and reflection cycle. You’ll complete a simulation each week related to a specific leadership competency (e.g., addressing systemic bias, supporting inclusive classrooms, engaging with families). After each simulation, you’ll engage in reflective exercises and debrief sessions to deepen your learning and develop actionable strategies for implementing what you’ve learned.

Advance Your Skills (Weeks 9-12)

Weeks 9-12 will focus on advanced simulations and action planning. You’ll tackle more complex issues such as cultural sustainability in school environments, making equity-based decisions, and managing microaggressions. These simulations build on your earlier experiences and push you to refine your leadership approach.

Transfer Learning to Practice (Weeks 13-14)

In the final weeks (Weeks 13-14), you’ll focus on transferring the skills and insights gained throughout the program into your actual leadership practice. You’ll create a personal action plan with specific, actionable strategies and receive peer feedback. A final reflection session will allow you to assess how your perspective on leadership has evolved.

Ongoing Development (Post-Program)

Even after the program ends, you can continue to develop your CRSL competencies through follow-up activities, including ongoing peer group meetings and quarterly simulation replays. These resources help ensure the long-term integration of culturally responsive practices into your leadership role.

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Download the Program Guide
 

Ready to begin your journey toward culturally responsive leadership? Download the program guide to access a detailed, week-by-week roadmap that will help you develop the skills needed to create a more inclusive and equitable school environment. This guide provides a complete overview of each module, key simulations, and reflection prompts to reinforce your learning. Equip yourself with the tools to make lasting, meaningful change in your school community—download the guide today and take the first step toward becoming a culturally responsive leader!