School-based racial equity collaborations: White principals implementing an active anti-racist stance

Abstract

This study explores how White principals in the Seattle metropolitan area implemented an active anti-racist stance through school-based racial equity collaborations. Using participatory action research, the study follows three White principals in the Ally Engagement program, a community-based racial affinity leadership intervention, during the 2022-23 academic year. Our research-practice partnership asked: How do White school leaders implement their developing understanding of an active anti-racist stance? Findings reveal that principals used school-based racial equity collaborations to begin to ensure the influential presence of Black and Brown individuals in decision-making processes, foster race-specific conversations among predominantly White staff, and integrate anti-racist ideas and tools into daily school routines. By applying a racialized lens and engaging in critical self-reflection, these principals sought to navigate challenges, including institutional resistance, to address systemic racism. The study underscores the complexities and opportunities in leading for racial justice, emphasizing the need for meaningful action over performative commitments. We argue that school-based racial equity collaborations can help create a system of accountability for White principals to redistribute power, educate White folks, and work toward system-level change.