Swimming Against the Current: Resistance to a Black Superintendent’s Fight to Lead With Equity in an Urban School District

Abstract

This case describes how, after being hired by a large urban school district in the southern United States, a Black male superintendent’s relationship with his stakeholders deteriorated due to disagreements about his equity-based leadership approach. Three incidents occurred during his tenure, which he believed to be racially motivated. Yet, the school board and the community downplayed race as the motivating factor. Ultimately, the community’s racial bias led to his departure after only 3 years. This case study explores the question, “How did race affect the ability of a Black superintendent to lead with equity in an urban school district?”