Twenty-fourth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

There are issues that every school faces on a day-to-day basis, which could be handled by the school and school staff. Then there are critical Issues not all schools face but that affect students, faculty, administrators and staff deeply ( Proulx and Schulten 2018). Twenty-two percent of the children in the U.S. live at or below poverty level. Students living at or below poverty level tend to have the highest dropout rates. Studies show that students who do not get enough food or sleep are less likely to perform at their full academic potential. Schools know these truths first-hand, and despite efforts to provide students with basic essentials, teachers, administrators, and other policy makers know there is no equitable distribution of resources. Compounding these issues are poor environmental conditions of the schools in low-income neighborhoods, which often results in further undermining the potential of students in these districts. Our research emphasizes triumphs amid the aforementioned adversities. It features the stories of nine transformative leaders who created positive change in failing schools.