For many aspiring school leaders, the purpose of enrolling in an online Master of Science in Education (MSEd.) in Educational Leadership program such as the one offered by Northwest Missouri State University is to learn how to help schools achieve their goals. The ultimate goal for most schools is to enhance learning outcomes and academic achievement.
To accomplish this goal, educational leaders need to create and nurture an environment where students have equitable access in a minimally restrictive environment. Children learn best when they feel safe, included and supported. Thus, effective educational leaders focus on engendering the inclusive, safe environments that best support student learning and growth.
The Need for Culturally Responsive Learning Environments
Whether focusing on factors like racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, language use, ability or gender identity, it is clear that diversity and intersectionality in the U.S. student body is growing steadily. Traditional educational models, methods and materials often do not reflect or represent these myriad forms of diversity and fail to represent, meet and support the learning needs of wide swaths of the student population. Culturally responsive learning environments aim to remedy this through focusing on, addressing and leveraging the diverse strengths, needs and experiences of all students.
For instance, Wisconsin’s Guiding Principles for Teaching and Learning from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction contains six guiding principles, one of which states that responsive school environments are conducive to meaningful learning because they adapt to students’ individual needs. This type of learning encourages collaboration among students instead of isolating them. The department’s research brief on responsive environments summarizes the critical need for culturally responsive teaching environments:
To be effective for all students, classroom learning environments must be responsive to a broad range of needs among a diverse student population. These diverse needs include cultural and linguistic differences as well as developmental levels, academic readiness, and learning styles. A responsive learning environment engages all students by providing a respectful climate where instruction and curriculum are designed to respond to the backgrounds and needs of every student.
Culturally Responsive Practices for Educational Leaders
Some higher education institutions consider the provision of a responsive learning environment to be an important facet of educational leadership. To this end, Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Educational Leadership program includes the course Multicultural Education for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Educators who enroll in this course learn how to ensure the success and well-being of students by:
- Setting up equitable protocols for student support
- Providing equitable access in the least restrictive environment
- Implementing practices for culturally responsive teaching and leadership
- Creating a culture where all students and their families receive fair treatment
Leadership Skills Required to Create a Culturally Responsive Environment
An educational institution consists of many moving parts working together to achieve its vision, mission and values. Strong relationships provide the foundation for a culturally responsive school environment. While relationships between school leaders, staff members and students are important, the principal also needs to cultivate relationships with student families and the community at large. These partnerships can affect a school’s ability to achieve academic goals.
Principals who prioritize student success demonstrate leadership skills focused on:
- Creating vision and mission statements to bring about change
- Building relationships with families and the community to gain support
- Providing meaningful feedback to staff to maintain best instructional practices
- Operating a facility that promotes student success and well-being
- Developing an effective system to hire, train and retain qualified staff
In addition to the multicultural education course, Northwest’s MSEd. in Educational Leadership program offers five courses that address different facets of educational leadership — visionary, relational, instructional, managerial and innovative. The degree program consists of a total of 10 courses. Educational leaders who combine these five facets with knowledge of multicultural education can foster culturally responsive environments that maximize student success in the classroom and beyond.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Educational Leadership program.
