The Department of Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Integrative Studies will utilize donated funds to develop a report to promote equity and social justice in K-12 schools.

Barbara Nakaoka, a retired school superintendent and current CPP adjunct professor, funded the project, which is a nod to the importance of equity-minded leadership.

"The ultimate goal of this project is to address systemic racism and promote social justice through culturally responsive leadership," said Professor Betty Alford, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership.

The research team, which includes professors Betty Alford and Richard Navarro, along with assistant professors Taylor Allbright, Liane Hypolite and Eligio Martinez, will explore ways that educational leaders are seeking to promote and sustain racial understanding and justice. The group also will illuminate successful strategies from the perspectives of graduates of Cal Poly Pomona's Educational Leadership Doctoral Program, a program with a strong focus on social justice.

"This is a great moment to really do something significant to help all leaders in the school community," said Nakaoka. "Dr. Alford and her research team's approach to look at the needs, best practices, concrete steps forward, and platform for further positive discussion and action to sustainable systematic change is a thoughtful and practical way to catapult us to addressing this issue and getting results."

The research project is set to launch in August of 2020 after CPP Institutional Review Board approval. Initial data will be collected through focus group interviews with Educational Leadership Doctoral Program graduates followed by individual, in-depth interviews regarding particular issues and promising practices.

The findings of the report will be disseminated through an institute for educational leaders as well as through conference presentations and printed materials. For more information about the project, please email Professor Betty Alford at btalford@cpp.edu.