AYESHA NUMAN WOODSIDE PRIORYPORTOLA VALLEY, CA

RASHAAD PHILLIPSTHE DALTON SCHOOLNEW YORK, NY

“Now Let’s Get InFormation” -Beyonce

Objectives

1. Understand the definition of ‘Cultural Authenticity’

2. Understand why ‘Cultural Authenticity’ is relevant within predominantly White spaces

3. Understanding how to develop your cultural authenticity as a leader within your institution

Norms & Agreements

• Understand that this does not provide you with the perfect ‘one size fits all’ solution to your individual problems, but instead requires you to be able to evaluate and reflect on your needs and call you to the work you must be willing to engage with.

• This is an inviting space, but we are going to ask you to have courageous conversations. This may mean that at times you may feel uncomfortable.

• Speak from your own experience. Do not speak for other people. • Have radical honesty with oneself. It is okay to be imperfect and

have room to grow.

Disclaimers

We have developed the Cultural Authenticity framework, which arose from the cross pollination of the Authentic Leadership and the Cultural Competency & Literacy frameworks.

Cultural Authenticity was identified as the missing link between these two frameworks specifically crafted for BIPoC (Black & Indigenous folx and People of Color) to understand our role as educational leaders in predominantly white institutions.

You will not find the term ‘Cultural Authenticity’, nor find it as a framework within current scholarship, as it is newly developed.

Building Self Awareness & Investigating Biases

“Self Awareness requires observation, openness, curiosity, patience, gentleness honesty, routine, and practice” -Sara Kubric

(The Millennial Therapist)

What is Cultural Authenticity?

When one’s actions and words align with one’s beliefs and values; not an imitation of what we think

we should be or have been told we should be.

Apparel

Hairstyles

Facial Expressions

Elements of Cultural Authenticity

Elements of Cultural Authenticity can also include...

• Appearance• Language• Mannerisms and non-verbal cues

– Hand Gestures– Way of walking

• Social and professional interactions• Music• Content & Content presentation• Emotions• Food

Negative Effects of Being Culturally Inauthentic

● Impact on mental health ○ Stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem ○ Imposter Syndrome

● Students sense inauthenticity ● Impact on work quality and production● White Supremacy continues to inflict its emotional violence

and trauma onto ourselves, our students, and ultimately our world.

For AdministrationCultural Authenticity will help to build retention and should be encouraged by administration who want to:

○ Have more diversity○ Retain diverse staff and faculty○ Have a school that is actually inclusive and equitable○ Become an anti-racist school○ Frame the school and admin as forward thinkers and

visionaries in education

“Earned All this Money But They Never Take the Country Out Me ” -

Beyonce

The Origins of Cultural Authenticity

Authentic LeadershipFramework

Cultural Authenticity Framework

Cultural Competency & Literacy Framework

Authentic Leadership Framework

● An approach to leadership, in which the leader acts in a “real and genuine way” that is true to who they are as individuals.

● Benefits of Authentic Leadership: ○ Promotes trust, loyalty and strong performances from

followers. ○ More than a educator who knows content, students

want/need a educator who is good, honest, real and truth.○ Keeps followers productive, happy, focused

Authentic Leadership Pyramid

Authentic Leaders…..LEAD WITH THEIR HEART AND NOT JUST THEIR MIND

Cultural Competency & Literacy Framework

• The application of a defined set of values, principles, skills, attitudes, policies, and behaviors that enable individuals and groups to work effectively across cultures. Cultural competence is a developmental process (and continuum) that evolves over time for both individuals and organizations. (NAIS 2019)

• Benefits of being Culturally Competent: ○ Empowers marginalized people ○ Builds an understanding of our personal biases○ Inspires others to become culturally aware and literate

Cultural Competence Model

Cultural Competent Leaders…

ACTIVELY INVESTIGATE THEIR OWN BIAS

CREATE MORE EQUITABLE

ENVIRONMENTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM89Q5Eng_M

Unleash Your Inner Beyonce

THE ROAD TO BECOMING CULTURALLY AUTHENTIC LEADERS

Step 1: Identifying the Self

• Unpacking cultural bias• Understanding how you view

the world• Identifying and celebrating the

aspects of your culture and identity

Self Reflection- Life stories/Experiences

Introspective Practices-meditation, prayer, reflectiction

Seeking HONEST assessment and feedback from colleagues, students, parents, & outsiders

Having courageous conversations with yourself

WAYS IN WHICH YOU

MIGHT DO THIS:

How Culturally Authentic Am I? A Self Reflection:

Part One:

What aspects of my identity do I bring to my job? What aspects of my identity do I leave “at home”? What do these choices inherently reveal about my values as an educator?

Part Two:

What pieces of my culture do I want to celebrate at my institution and why? What pieces of myself and my culture are non-negotiable? What pieces are negotiable and why?

Part Three:

What tangible ways are you enacting this cultural authenticity?

Step 2: Identifying & Understanding your Limitations

• Identify the institution/system that you are steeped in

• Start to uncover points of safety and points of danger.

Understand your purpose at work

Become skilled at tailoring your style

Transparency- be honest & straightforward

Having courageous conversations with colleagues

Conduct a cost-benefit analysis for your own well being

WAYS IN WHICH YOU MIGHT DO THIS:

Scenario One:

Ayesha wears a Black Lives Matter shirt to work one day. Both students and faculty throughout the school have been talking about Ayesha’s shirt. Some have said that a teacher’s apparel should not have any political messages on it. Others have said that her shirt is exclusionary and does not talk about how all lives matter. Later in the day, Ayesha is pulled into the head of school’s office, where she is warned that her shirt is making members of the community uncomfortable. When Ayesha leaves for the day, a couple of black students tell her that they like her shirt.

What next steps would a Culturally Authentic leader

take? (Immediately, Tomorrow, Next Month, Next

year?)

Scenario Two:

A Latinx guest speaker comes to Christina’s school for a professional development day. The speaker is presenting on grading for equity. He is wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a snapback NY Yankees cap. Throughout his presentation he is using words and phrases like “yall,”; “ain’t”; “you be like”.

During a break, Christina is sitting at lunch with colleagues. One teacher says, “he was so unprofessional! What was he wearing? That was not appropriate for this kind of presentation.” Another teacher replies, “yeah I could hardly even understand what he was even saying, I am surprised this is who they picked to bring to our school”.

What next steps would a Culturally Authentic leader

take? (Immediately, Tomorrow, Next Month, Next

year?)

Scenario Three:

During a class discussion Rashaad calls on Alex, a multiracial student, to respond to another student’s comment. He begins his response with, “That ain’t what it said.”

A student that is Asian then responds to Alex by saying , “Actually the correct way to say this is “that is not what it said.” The rest of the class starts to giggle. Alex looks at Rashaad after this comment.

What next steps would a Culturally Authentic leader

take? (Immediately, Tomorrow, Next Month, Next

year?)

Step 3: Identifying & Understanding How to Transform Institutions

• Challenge others in your institution to unpack ways in which White Supremacy hides behind the guise of “professionalism”.

• Challenge upheld stereotypes or assumptions about marginalized communities and cultures.

Encourage others to start at Step 1 of this process

Provide helpful resources for when they are ready and able to do the work.

WAYS IN WHICH YOU

MIGHT DO THIS:

Developing Your Cultural AuthenticityPlan of Action1. What is one practice that you can implement consistently to be culturally

authentic? What is the benefit of that practice?

1. Think about one person in your institution who is struggling to feel a sense of belonging. How will you act as an mentor to them in this process of uncovering their cultural authenticity? What solution(s) would you provide to help them in their situation?

1. Swap contact info with your group members if you are not at the same school to help hold each other accountable.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS Generation of Unapologetic Media Moments

Questions?

Join us on Instagram!

@culturallyauthenticleaders

The purpose of this platform is to hold each other accountable in becoming culturally authentic leaders. If you would like to be featured on our page. Please DM us a picture of yourself or something related to this work, and a detailed paragraph about the ways in which you are practicing Cultural Authenticity.

Resources/Bibliography

Authentic Leadership:

• Northouse, Peter G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/05/12/what-is-authentic-leadership/#32ce5a9fdef7

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201401/what-is-authentic-leadership-do-you-have-it

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/03/13/seven-ways-to-develop-your-authentic-leadership-style/#6b6c93c69e64

• https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/faculty-development/six-paths-to-more-authentic-teaching/

• https://nyusternldp.blogs.stern.nyu.edu/authentic-leadership-guide-definitions-qualities-pros-cons-examples/

Resources/Bibliography Cultural Literacy & Competency:

• How Leaders Can Improve Their Schools’ Cultural Competence

• Rosetta Ryong Lee NAIS PoCC 2018 Cultural Competency Workshop• NAIS Diversity LEadership Institute• Shifting from Competency to Inclusion: Using Professional Development

Practices to Build Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Teaching• What’s Missing from the Conversation: The Growth Mindset in Cultural

Competency• Summary of Stages of Racial Identity Development• Hiring for Cultural Competence• In Practice: Building Schoolwide Cultural Competency with Teacher-Leaders• AIM Survey Definitions• http://www.jonesandassociatesconsulting.com/Case_for_Diversity_and_Cultu

ral_Competency.pdf