Miami University

5/7/09

Dr. Ray Terrell’s latest book, Culturally Proficient Leadership: The Personal Journey Begins Within (Corwin Press, 2009), reflects his 45 years of experience as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and professor.

 

What audience did you write this book for?
Teachers and school administrators. It’s designed to help them develop their own stories as it relates to interactions with cultural differences.

Why is that important?
Schools tend to operate on a Eurocentric, middle-class, standard English model. Students who come to school from a different cultural experience cannot find themselves in such a model. Frequently teachers don’t understand what’s going on with these students. So in order to close the gap as to how students and teacher perceive each other, it’s necessary to reflect on how we can embrace cultures and make schools inclusive.

What advice would you give to teachers struggling to make their classrooms inclusive?
First, look realistically at the diversity that exists in your classroom and secondly be willing to address it. It’s easy to see racial differences, but teachers often don’t see religious differences or socioeconomic differences. And if you don’t see it, it’s tantamount to not really seeing that student. In such cases students can feel that they’re not even there.

So acknowledge the differences you do see, like racial differences, and look for what you don't see.

You started your teaching career in 1964. Are you optimistic about what’s going on in education today regarding equity issues?
Absolutely. Real progress is being made. When I started my career, I thought we could solve it all. It’s harder than that, but clearly there’s been progress.

Once a school or a district can change its culture so that all students and their parents are comfortable in that environment, then academic achievement will improve as will people to people interactions.

You’ve written four books now and they’ve all been best sellers. In fact, last year you were honored by your publisher, Corwin, for reaching the $1 million level in sales. Lots of people would have retired by now. But you keep working. Why?
We are seeking changes in school settings. To see the interactions change, to see outcomes improve as teachers change their attitudes, that's very rewarding.

Editor’s note:
Here are what reviewers have said about Culturally Proficient Leadership: The Personal Journey Begins Within:

• “The ability to make change, starting from within, empowers the individual to educate without barriers.”

• “Terrell and Lindsey…challenge readers to actively interrogate the effects of their own experiences on the way they interact with the diversity of the school.”

• “The idea of a cultural autobiography is compelling and necessary for people to truly extend their journey of understanding themselves and others.”

• “Every school leader who desires to be a change agent should travel the journey described in this pioneering book. This is a powerful book that will change your life and profession.”