Critical Race Teacher Leadership: Leading Antiracist Systems Change

Abstract

As attacks on critical race theory continue, anti-Black violence remains normalized, with schools often unwilling to transform toward racial healing. Sharing narratives from urban school-based practitioner projects, the authors conceptualize an applied critical race theory systems change model. After clarifying four tenets to guide teacher leadership-driven antiracist systems change, the authors identify five ongoing systemic antiracist approaches. Central to such transformation efforts are antiracist teacher leaders who are informed by voice-centric classroom instruction and an awareness of the larger school, community, and district contexts. The authors caution that antiracist systems change must continually counteract the Whiteness of schools.