Leading Change
Integrating a Racial Equity and Social Justice Framework into Organizational Change
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Yumiko Aratani,
Devin Noel Endres,
Bernardo Ruiz
The purpose of this study is to present a new organizational strategy in advancing racial equity and social justice through a development of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) indicators, benchmarks and measures. The paper is based on a case study of a public transit agency, and it employs mixed methods that included human resources (HR) records and qualitative interviews/focus groups with leadership and employees of diverse backgrounds. The finding of the study have policy implications for what it takes an organization to become anti-racist.
Early Childhood Educators - Anchors Amidst Chaos: Agility and Adaptive Leadership in Israel's October 7th War
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Yonit Nissim
The current research is a pioneering mixed-method study investigating the perspectives of 177 early childhood educators (ECEs) in Israel during the challenges of the October 7th war launched by Hamas. It examines their role in maintaining stability amid wartime uncertainty, using a theoretical framework of adaptive and agile leadership. The research addresses a gap in literature regarding ECEs perspectives in wartime, aiming to contribute valuable insights to the academic discourse, focusing on how ECEs' leadership manifested at that time. Findings reveal significant responsibilities, management complexities, and emotional burdens faced by educators following the outbreak of war. While head kindergarten teachers showed greater perceptions of leadership qualities compared to their assistants, no significant correlation was found between leadership perception and workplace safety. Kindergarten teachers (KTs) reported lower safety levels. Changes at work correlated with positive perceptions of functioning and safety. Qualitative analysis highlighted adaptive responses to maintain safety and address needs, including changes in location, schedules, readiness for war, emotional and pedagogical aspects, and staffing. The correlation between the hierarchical position of KTs within the management structure and their perceptions of leadership, responsibility, and safety during this period is unmistakable.
