Professional learning for antiracist district transformation
The role of transformational leadership and double-loop learning
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22165282 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Patricia Virella (0000-0002-5736-3422, Montclair State University, corresponding author), Patricia Marisol Virella, Chedia Ayari (Montclair State University), Steve Tozer (Palo Alto Institute) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2504-284X • E-ISSN: 2504-284X |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/feduc.2025.1584097 |
| OpenAlex | W4412749818 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 46 |
Introduction This study investigates how professional learning contributes to antiracist district transformation, focusing on the roles of transformational leadership and double-loop learning. Transformational leadership inspires followers to achieve exceptional goals, while double-loop learning involves questioning underlying assumptions and values to foster systemic change. Methods A longitudinal case study approach was employed to examine the experiences of seven district and school-level leaders in an urban-intensive school district. These leaders participated in a multi-year antiracist professional learning series designed to promote equity and systemic change. Results Preliminary findings indicate that the professional learning series facilitated a shift in participants’ racial schema and enhanced their capacity to navigate resistance to antiracist practices. For example, leaders implemented new protocols for reviewing instructional materials to ensure cultural relevance and inclusivity. Participants also reported developing strategies to address resistance, such as facilitating open forums to discuss concerns and build consensus. Discussion This study contributes to the growing body of literature on leadership for equity, highlighting the importance of professional learning in promoting antiracist transformation. The findings offer insights for districts seeking to foster systemic change and provide practical strategies for leaders navigating resistance to equity initiatives
Business · Double loop · Knowledge management · Political science · Process management · Public relations · Sociology · Transformational leadership · Chemistry · Computer Science · Education Systems and Policy · Higher Education Research Studies · Mathematics · Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
The Education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1935
Transformational Leadership
How School Leadership Influences Student Learning
Leading Educational Change
Professional Development and Teacher Change
The fifth discipline, the art and practice of the learning organization
A Review of Transformational School Leadership Research 1996–2005
A Purposeful Approach to the Constant Comparative Method in the Analysis of Qualitative Interviews
Progressive Dystopia
Playing in the Dark ? Blackness, Humanity, and Studies of Black Life in Education 2012–2022
Hearts and Minds First
Anti-Racist Educational Leadership and Policy
Interviewing for Social Scientists
The production of racial inequality within and among organizations
Schools as racialized organizations in policy and practice
Pedagogy of fear
Complementary methods for research in education
But What is Urban Education
The Promise and Pitfalls of Transformational Leadership for Decreasing the Use of Out-of-School Suspensions and Reduce the Racial Discipline Gap
Who Is Here to Help Me? The Work-Related Social Networks of Staff of Color in Two Mid-Sized Districts
Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research
Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence
Qualitative Data Analysis
A Theory of Racialized Organizations
The Problem of Teacher Education
Against the Dark
Organizational Learning
The Constant Comparative Method of Qualitative Analysis
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |