Diversity Leadership

Through my studies and professional work I have shown diversity leadership competence by:

1. Demonstrating an understanding and recognition of the significance of diversity, and responding to the needs of diverse learners;
2. Creating and monitoring a positive learning environment for all students;
3. Creating and monitoring a positive working environment for all staff;
4. Promoting sensitivity of diversity throughout the school community;
5. Demonstrating the ability to adapt educational programming to the needs of diverse constituencies;

Reflection:

I have grown more and more to believe that education not about the content and materials, but it is instead all about people and the relationships and connections you make in and out of the classroom. Therefore, knowing who your students are and what each and every one of them can bring to the conversation can engage them in ways the would not expect or have no experienced before. I now know classrooms are becoming more diverse each year not only from the perspective of ethnicity but also of abilities, preferences, special education needs, etc. Knowing who your students are means knowing their learning preferences and about their multiple intelligences. After gaining that information, the teacher can then differentiate instruction and activities to create a positive learning environment for all students.

Through my practicum experience, I have seen the importance of a positive working environment for all staff that must be promoted in addition to understanding the role of diversity in the classroom for the students. Training teachers on inclusive instructional strategies and providing them with education on multiculutral competency and differentiated instruction can instill a desire to reach all students in the classroom. Knowing it is a challenging task to plan and carry out different differentiated instruction activities, principals must motivate and recognize those teachers that are able to adapt and respond to the diverse needs of the students.