Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
5-2021
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed. D.
Department
Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development
Degree Program
Educational Leadership and Organizational Development, EDD
Committee Chair
Brydon-Miller, Mary
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Davis, Keith
Committee Member
Davis, Keith
Committee Member
Stark, Geneva
Committee Member
Reed, Teri
Author's Keywords
Black female educational leader; black feminist thought; othermother; activist
Abstract
This dissertation is a qualitative portraiture study that explores Black female educational leaders’ lived experiences and the way those experiences cultivate knowledge formation. This study uses Black feminist thought as a theoretical framework. Black feminist thought grounds this research study in advancing intellectual traditions, equal educational opportunities, and the ethic of personal accountability. Black feminist thought serves as an ideal theoretical framework to ground this research study because its utility in clarifying the unique way Black female educational leaders translate theory into action (Loder, 2005; Lomotey, 1993; Tillman, 2008; Renix, 2016). The findings of this research study position Black female educational leaders at the nucleus of the knowledge validation process regarding declarations of expertise on implementing relevant pedagogical practices and policies that elevate Black and marginalized students’ lived experiences. Through the creation of portraits, the actors in this research study produce a counternarrative that reflects the journey along the rivers of their lives.
Recommended Citation
Woods, Cassandra G., "The rivers of life: a portraiture study of three black female educational leaders in a large urban school district." (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3604.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/3604
