Black female principals in US public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic

What is it about?

In the US, schools are not just centers of education. They are also community centers and social welfare providers. Research shows that the US public school system is disproportionately led by White male leaders. This makes it hard for Black women to become principals. When they do become principals, they are discriminated against. But being a principal also puts them in a position to foster change. In this study, researchers interviewed 20 Black female principals about their experiences in 2020. The results showed that Black female principals remained committed to advocacy and justice work for their students and communities. Black female principals were also cautiously optimistic. This was because their work is being taken up at scale. But they also feel frustrated. This is because it sometimes feels like people are more interested in talking than doing the work.

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Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The COVID-19 pandemic had particular impacts on Black people, for example, medically and economically. Black female principals helped their students and communities through COVID-19 outbreaks. Many of these students belong to low income families. Black female principals ensured that their students had access to basic amenities. This was despite challenges from their coworkers and district officials. At times, their work put them at risk of COVID-19 infection. But this did not stop them from advocating for their students and communities. KEY TAKEAWAY: Black female principals played an important role in ensuring student and community welfare during the pandemic. We need policies that ensure equitable funding, access, healthcare, and resources to Black communities.