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by Tamra Simpson (Author), Valery Dragon (Author)
Focusing on the unique experiences of Black women in K-12 leadership, this work blends personal narratives with critical analysis to reveal systemic barriers rooted in the intersections of race and gender. It argues that the challenges Black women face are not isolated incidents but pervasive and embedded in the broader narrative of U.S. history, which continues to perpetuate inequities in leadership roles. The structure of the book amplifies and affirms the voices of Black women educational leaders, inspiring action and advocacy for transformative change in educational policy, practices, and programming.
Grounded in the framework of Contextually Responsive Intersectional Systems (CRIS), the book shows how CRIS not only honors identity, context, and lived experiences but also expands what traditionally counts as data in continuous improvement. It calls for leadership that collaborates in design to achieve reforms aligned with the unique needs of a system. While centered in education, CRIS is field-agnostic, offering actionable strategies for human-centered, transformative change across sectors.
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Focusing on the unique experiences of Black women in K-12 leadership, this work blends personal narratives with critical analysis to reveal systemic barriers rooted in the intersections of race and gender. It argues that the challenges Black women face are not isolated incidents but pervasive and embedded in the broader narrative of U.S. history, which continues to perpetuate inequities in leadership roles. The structure of the book amplifies and affirms the voices of Black women educational leaders, inspiring action and advocacy for transformative change in educational policy, practices, and programming.
Grounded in the framework of Contextually Responsive Intersectional Systems (CRIS), the book shows how CRIS not only honors identity, context, and lived experiences but also expands what traditionally counts as data in continuous improvement. It calls for leadership that collaborates in design to achieve reforms aligned with the unique needs of a system. While centered in education, CRIS is field-agnostic, offering actionable strategies for human-centered, transformative change across sectors.
Tamra Simpson is an education leader, an award-winning educator, and the founder of L.E.A.D. LLC. She empowers change-makers to understand and challenge systemic barriers, cultivate bold leadership, and drive lasting impact. Through her work, she champions leaders to step beyond comfort zones, inspiring transformation in schools and communities.
Valery Dragon, nonprofit leader and owner of The Guild, LLC, brings over a decade of educational leadership. Formerly a principal and managing director of instruction, she supports teams through human-centered improvement cycles, system audits, and coaching, fostering coherence, instructional growth, and transformative teaching and learning environments.
Author Biography
Tamra Simpson is an education leader, an award-winning educator, and the founder of L.E.A.D. LLC. She empowers change-makers to understand and challenge systemic barriers, cultivate bold leadership, and drive lasting impact. Through her work, she champions leaders to step beyond comfort zones, inspiring transformation in schools and communities.
Valery Dragon, nonprofit leader and owner of The Guild, LLC, brings over a decade of educational leadership. Formerly a principal and managing director of instruction, she supports teams through human-centered improvement cycles, system audits, and coaching, fostering coherence, instructional growth, and transformative teaching and learning environments.
