Abstract
Despite the increasing number of Latinx students in Upper Midwest schools, Latinx school leaders remain underrepresented. This quantitative study explored the experiences of Latinx principals and assistant principals in K-12 schools across the region, focusing on community perception, stress, coping, and resilience. Data were collected from twenty-three principals and assistant principals, including fourteen women and nine men. The Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) showed a mean score of 13.52 (SD = 4.87). The Brief COPE Inventory (BCI) revealed a high mean score for problem-focused coping, indicating effective coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) indicated higher stress levels (mean score 25.4, SD = 3.159) than the normative sample, while the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) showed moderate to high resilience (mean score 16.174, SD = 1.497). The study also examined the use of code-switching in leadership among Latinx principals. Findings highlighted significant challenges such as systemic racism, gender biases, cultural differences, and a lack of representation and mentorship. Despite these obstacles, Latinx leaders exhibited considerable resilience and effective coping strategies, underscoring their potential to improve educational experiences for diverse students. The study emphasized increasing Latinx representation in educational leadership and recommended policies and practices to promote inclusivity and equity. These insights form the basis for future research and initiatives to support and empower Latinx school leaders contributing to a more equitable and effective educational system.
Advisor
Dr. Jason Kaufman
Committee Member
Leslie Hitchens
Committee Member
Susan Craig
Date of Degree
2024
Language
english
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Program of Study
Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Leadership
College
Education
Recommended Citation
Rivera, Melisa. (2024). Examining Latinx Principals' and Assistant Principals' "Desafios" in K-12 Education in the Upper Midwest [Doctoral dissertation, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1480/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Rights Statement
