How Do School Leaders Deal with Diversity in School Community?
Done by: Muza A.E. Abu namous
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My position
Building a culture of learning starts with accepting other’s points of view and differences.
Having such a mindset is really difficult, especially in an organization where most of the
employees came from different backgrounds. Diversity in schools makes the school leader’s
role difficult and needs a lot of effort. School principals, in my opinion, must come up with
their own strategies that involve the ways that the principals deal with teachers, how they
communicate, and the steps to create a healthy working environment where the employees
feel free to express themselves, the procedures of supporting and meeting the employee’s
needs. In addition, Youngs and King (2002) found establishing structures for teachers to
participate in ongoing professional development, building trust, and supporting teachers'
internal reform initiatives are all ways that effective principals can help schools build
capacity.
Diversity
Diversity is the broad range of distinctions between people, groups, or things. It can be
seen in a variety of contexts, including those involving race, ethnicity, gender, age, culture,
religion, socioeconomic status, abilities, and more. “all characteristics and experiences that
define each of us as individuals” (Diversity Task Force, 2001).
Diversity in the school community showed a positive impact on student’s performance
and students’ academic achievement. The benefits of diversity in the school community extend
to the faculty and staff as well as the students. Abu Shawish (2016) in his studies pointed out
that the school community can benefit from having a diverse faculty. The knowledge and
understanding of different cultural groups among teachers and students may grow as a result of
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teacher diversity, which will improve everyone's ability to interact with various cultural
groups.( Gordon, 2000). The ability of the teacher to interact successfully with their own
students may be improved by diversity, which will also improve the quality of their teaching
methods. Diversity in the school community is one of the most important elements to build an
effective organization where all employees are working together to reach the school’s vision.
Gardenswartz and Rowe (2009) agreed that both faculty and students benefit when diversity is
promoted, developed, and effectively managed. Any large organization can benefit greatly from
diversity if it is properly managed and directed.
Effective management and a perfect leadership style are the keys to benefiting from
diversity in the school. The role of the school leader begins here. The educational experience
of students and the overall success of a school are greatly influenced by school leaders. Several
researchers indicated that school principals play a multi-faceted role in enacting the expected
policies and goals in the 21st century and reaching organizational goals (Mahlangu, 2014;
Mestry, 2017; Tucker & Codding, 2002).
According to Peterson (2010), in the school community, school leaders take on a
leadership role. which emphasizes creating an environment at work where employees feel
valued and can collaborate easily with those from different backgrounds. He pointed out that,
the school principal contributes to the positive culture through his or her words, deeds, memes,
and nonverbal behavior. However, Tracy (1990) claimed that the school principal plays a
managerial role in the school community in her study. The main duty is to assign everyone their
duties while managing the entire organization, grant them power commensurate with the tasks
they are responsible for, and set high bar standards. He emphasized that the keys to success
include giving the staff the necessary training, allowing them to fail, and offering feedback.
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Communication
In big organizations where people from different nationalities work together, some
issues arise such as communication. According to Keyton (2011), communication can be
defined as the process of conveying knowledge and understanding from one person to
another. Human life depends on communication because it allows us to share our thoughts,
ideas, and feelings with others. It is essential for establishing connections, fostering
relationships, and promoting understanding between people and groups. In both personal and
professional settings, effective communication is essential and has many advantages,
including building relationships,
enhancing teamwork, improving productivity, resolving conflicts, and developing personal
growth.
37 teachers from three different continents make up my current workplace,
representing 18 different nationalities. We all have at least two languages between us. English
is the most frequently used language. However, some teachers, particularly teachers from the
department of Arabic, are unable to communicate with the majority because they do not speak
English. One frequent problem in these organizations is language barriers. language barriers
happen when people who speak different languages cannot find a way to communicate. In the
school community, communication is a must to ensure that all employees are working toward
reaching the school’s goal.
Communication is a fundamental skill that plays a critical role in building an
organization. Each person's communication abilities have an impact on both their own and
their organization's effectiveness (Brun, 2010; Summers, 2010). Lutgen-Sandvik (2010)
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agreed that The teacher's tasks can be made easier by improved communication among the
school community “one of the most inhibiting forces to organizational effectiveness is a lack
of effective communication” On the other hand, some researchers emphasized the importance
of communication for the school principals. Yate (2009) Being a successful school principal
requires having excellent communication skills.
In order to build a healthy working environment, the school principal must overcome
communication barriers. Reducing the number of links that leads to receiving the right message
from the sender to receiver without any modifications. Longest et al (2000)
Collaboration
In addition to communication, the issue of collaboration also surfaces in diverse schools.
Collaboration enables educators to exchange information and resources. Together, teachers can
share lesson plans, best practices, and other resources to raise the standard of instruction in their
classrooms. Moreover, collaboration among educators can open up possibilities for professional
growth. In addition, Collaboration can open up chances for coaching and support. New teachers
can receive guidance from more experienced educators as they navigate the difficulties of their
initial years in the classroom. However, diversity among the school members can lead to
favoritism. For instance, some teachers prefer to collaborate with teachers who speak the same
first language, some educators prefer to teach teachers their own age, and some people favor
working with others of their own gender.
In creating a collaborative culture among teachers in a school, the principal is crucial. The
principal can support the development of a more cooperative and effective teaching community
by allowing time and opportunities for collaboration, fostering a positive and supportive school
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culture, setting clear goals and expectations, supporting teacher leadership, and recognizing and
celebrating collaboration. To encourage collaboration in school commonality, school leaders
must cultivate an equal-opportunity culture. (Skrla, et al, 2009) In order to address educational
excellence and equity at the school level, principals must provide instructional leadership that
brings teachers and other school staff together. (Lawrence, 1999)
Conclusion
In conclusion, collaboration and communication are especially important in diverse schools
where teachers and students come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. In a diverse
school, collaboration can help teachers share their knowledge and experience with one another,
while communication can help build understanding and respect among students and teachers
from different backgrounds. The principal plays a critical role in promoting collaboration and
communication in a diverse school. The principal can encourage teachers to work together and
share their knowledge and resources, while also providing opportunities for professional
development that address the needs of a diverse student population. The principal can also
promote communication by creating a safe and respectful environment where students and
teachers can share their perspectives and learn from one another. By fostering collaboration and
communication in a diverse school, the principal can help ensure that all students receive an
equitable education that meets their unique needs.
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References
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Lutgen-Sandvik, P. (2010). Destructive organizational communication: Processes,
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Mahlangu, V. P. (2014). Strategies for principal-teacher development: A South
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