COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Stella Smith

TITLE: SHAPING LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY OF BLACK FEMALE EXECUTIVE-LEVEL HUMAN RESOURCES LEADERS IN TEXAS K-12 EDUCATION

ABSTRACT: Despite increasing attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion within educational leadership, Black women remain underrepresented in executive-level leadership positions across K-12 educational systems. Existing scholarship has documented barriers related to race, gender, leadership access, organizational culture, and career advancement; however, comparatively limited research has examined the experiences of Black female executive-level Human Resources leaders serving in central administration positions. Given the strategic role executive Human Resources leaders play in shaping workforce systems, leadership development, employee relations, organizational policy, and districtwide decision-making, this population represents an important yet underexamined area of educational leadership scholarship. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study is to explore how Black female executive-level Human Resources leaders serving in Texas K-12 educational systems navigate and influence organizational systems while operating at the intersection of race, gender, executive authority, and organizational power. Guided by Black Feminist Thought (Collins, 2000, 2022) and Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1989) and informed by Culturally Responsive Leadership (Khalifa et al., 2016) as the study’s applied leadership lens, the study seeks to understand how participants construct leadership identities, experience organizational power, and enact equity-centered leadership practices through district-level workforce systems and organizational decision-making. Using a qualitative multiple-case study design guided by Yin (2018), data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with Black female executive-level Human Resources leaders serving in Texas K-12 central administration positions. Data will be analyzed through preparation of the data, transcription verification, familiarization with participant narratives, initial coding, within-case analysis, cross-case analysis, theme development, and interpretation through the integrated theoretical and conceptual frameworks. This study is not intended solely to document inequities experienced by Black women in executive leadership. Rather, it seeks to understand how Black female executive-level Human Resources leaders remain influential while navigating organizational systems that shape leadership opportunity, executive decision-making, and workforce strategy. The findings may contribute to educational leadership, Human Resources leadership, organizational leadership, and equity scholarship by expanding understanding of executive Human Resources leadership as a strategic site of organizational power. In doing so, the study extends existing scholarship beyond questions of representation to examine how Black female executive leaders exercise influence, shape organizational systems, develop leadership capacity, and operationalize equity within Texas K-12 educational organizations.

Keywords: Black feminist thought, black female executive leaders, culturally responsive leadership, executive human resources leadership, intersectionality, organizational power, qualitative multiple-case study

 Zoom Link:

https://pvpanther.zoom.us/j/85240132797?pwd=z7E2inanXAUFasCsYsSMjqlkwcaoLy.1

Meeting ID: 852 4013 2797

Passcode: 278739