WE’RE DEDICATED TO INCREASE
ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL OUTCOMEs FOR BLACK AND LATINX STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA.
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IT IS NO SECRET, BLACK AND LATINX STUDENTS ARE BEING WOEFULLY UNDESERVED IN CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We believe in the brilliance and unique talents of all children. Given the right support, resources, and guidance, all young people can succeed. A critical ingredient to their success at school, however, is having a leader who sees the diversity of students as an asset, not something to overcome.
Unfortunately, Black and Latinx students are being woefully underserved in California’s public schools. Black students are suspended at higher rates and score at the bottom of every measure on standardized tests. On the other hand, their Latinx counterparts share high suspension rates and score marginally better, but still do not meet the standards. Research shows that K-12 students in California, particularly students of color, experience better outcomes when they're in schools led by educators of color — but far too often that just isn't the case. In California, over 60% of public school students are Black or Latinx, and yet less than 25% of schools had a Black or Latinx leader. That needs to change.
THE DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AIMS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Born out of work that began in 2017 within the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), an education policy and advocacy organization, to address issues of representation, equity and inclusion, the Diversity in Leadership Institute recognizes these results do not speak to the ability of Black and Latinx students. Instead, they highlight the collective failure of the system to meet the needs of our students.
With this in mind, the DLI is dedicated to increasing racial diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural competence among charter school and district administrators as a means to increase academic and social outcomes for Black and Latinx students in California.
OUR MISSION
The Diversity in Leadership Institute identifies, develops, and supports racially diverse public school leaders and allies to serve as change agents to close the opportunity gap, through movement building, growing talent pipelines for excellence in school leadership, and advocacy.
MEET OUR CEO
Dr. McGowan-Robinson began the work of mentoring and retaining diverse school leaders while serving in the role of Senior Vice President of Regional Advocacy and later as Chief Operating Officer at the California Charter Schools Association, which later spun off the Diversity in Leadership Institute into its own 501(c)(3). Before serving as the group's COO, McGowan-Robinson founded and served as Executive Director of Crown Preparatory Academy, a middle school in South Los Angeles, which is now part of the STEM Prep Schools network. A life-longe educator, McGowan-Robinson began her teaching career as a Chicago Public Schools teacher before moving west and becoming a high school English teacher and literacy coach with the Los Angeles Unified School District.
McGowan-Robinson earned her Bachelor’s degree in English/Rhetoric from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University.
The mission to support more Black and Latinx people to become school leaders is the culmination of a dream that began on a field in Mississippi before McGowan-Robinson was even born. Named after her grandmother — Laura Woodley, who had to drop out of school in the 6th grade to pick cotton, clean the homes of white people, and help care for her siblings after her mother's untimely death — McGowan-Robinson's family preached the value of education. Though her grandparents never finished school, McGowan-Robinson's grandmother was a voracious reader and natural teacher, and was the catalyst for her granddaughter's career in education. In 2010, McGowan-Robinson founded a school in her grandmother's honor (Laura means "crown"), and today, she continues her mission to help Black and Latinx children succeed, both in and out of the classroom.
MEET OUR BOARD
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DOC ERVIN
Doc brings over two decades Of experience in education to the DLI Board.
KATHY DOMINGUEZ
Kathy has dedicated the past fifteen years to improving educational outcomes.
MATTHEW SMITH
Matthew brings his deep passion and commitment for the success of boys and men.
JAY ARTIS-WRIGHT
Jay brings over 15 years of diverse professional experiences to DLI.
DAVID VALENTINE
David brings 30 years of leadership in strategy, finance, and operations to DLI.
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LEAD PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Using the results of this study as a foundation, CCSA's then-Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Laura McGowan- Robinson, led the formation of a Coalition aimed at leveraging these and similar findings into action statewide. We believe that through combined, coordinated and aligned efforts, the Coalition will effect systems change. Ten organizations joined as lead partners of the Charting the Course to Equity Coalition:
Loyola Marymount University, School of Education
The faculty, staff and students of the School of Education strive to work collaboratively in a student-centered environment.
Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC)
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Association of California School Administrators
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Energy Convertors
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United Negro College Fund
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Teach for America: Los Angeles
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California Charter Schools Association
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Innovate Public Schools
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Education Board Partners
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National Charter Collaborative
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Based on the Charting the Course study, the Coalition established the following call to action, which is comprised of four major objectives:
1. Conduct research on culturally responsive school leadership approaches by leaders of color to surface specific contributing factors that lead to successful academic and school climate outcomes.
3. Identify and amplify exemplary schooLs that embody the findings of this study as evidenced by successful recruitment, retention, and promotion of leaders of color, while increasing educational and school climate outcomes for all students.
2. Move from theory to action by seeking partnerships across the state to enhance existing educational leadership programs in preparing, supporting, and retaining K-12 school leaders of color.
4. Collectively leverage stakeholder voices (i.e., parents, teachers, administrators, community members, students) to highlight the academic and school climate impact of African American and Latinx educational leaders, identify ways to increase racial diversity in K-12 schools and support existing initiatives to further this goal.
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