Preparing educational leaders for queer inclusion in schools

Educational leaders are required to ensure equitable academic outcomes for all students, regardless of social class, race, gender, language, cultural identity, or other factors—including sexual orientation. Though the concept of equitable schooling and education is a common thread that runs through social justice leadership and teaching, a specific focus on queer issues has been elusive. In the rapidly changing political and social landscape for queer people, there is an increasing need to define the educational impact of marginalizaton on queer youth. For school leaders specifically, the job of maintaining a social justice focus on this community is imperative if all students are to receive equitable treatment in schools, and achieve equitable academic and developmental outcomes. This study examines how social justice leadership can interrogate and disrupt the heteronormative foundation of the public education system.