On Finding Cultural Humility: A Critical Narrative Case Study of School Equity and the Collaborative Process

The ever-changing cultural diversity of the student population necessitates shifts in schooling. For too long schools have been aggressive and unconnected spaces for students of color. This critical narrative case study will explore and understand how one independent school engages in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work to create space for its member voices and experiences. This dissertation study included document analysis, narrative interviews, and a focus group to uncover an in-depth overview of the interactional dynamics of one school site through an oral history and narrative of its members. Findings highlight how the tenets of cultural humility, including critical self-reflection, mitigating power dynamics, and mutually sustaining partnerships play out at the school. An emergent theme indicated the role of learning how to navigate spaces, experienced by parents, was also important as the school engaged in DEI work.