Building Culture, Instructional Strategies, and Data-Driven Leadership: Advocating for Black Student Success

As the new principal of an inner-city school, my primary focus has been on building a strong school culture and enhancing instructional strategies to address the achievement gap in mathematics, particularly for our Black student population. Utilizing the tenets of Visible Learning—which emphasize evidence-based practices, student engagement, and feedback—I have led my team in reshaping the learning environment. This presentation outlines how data-driven leadership, strategic resource allocation, and a culture of high expectations are driving our efforts to improve mathematics performance under the new state standards. By focusing on culturally responsive teaching and fostering collective efficacy among staff, we are on a path toward sustained growth.