2. Culture is Everywhere
Dominant Groups
Cultural Norms
Cultural Expectations
One’s Culture Shapes Values and Behaviors
Culturally Proficient Leaders Must Recognize
Some Behaviors as Cultural Norms
Remembers that Culture is Always a Factor
3. Common Knowledge is Not Always Common
Things are Only Self-Evident to Those Who Share
Your Worldview or Cultural Perspective
Culturally Proficient Organizations
Aligned Policies, Practices, and Procedures of the
Diverse Culture of the Organization
Culturally Proficient Educators
Adjust their Behaviors and Values to Accommodate
the Full Range of Diversity Represented by the
School Population
4. It is Important to Treat All People as
Individuals, as well as to Acknowledge Each
Group’s Identity
Culturally Proficient Leaders
Guarantee the Dignity of Each Person
Address Problems
Recognize Cultural Differences in Thought Patterns
Use Multiple Approaches to Problem-Solving
Use Knowledge to Promote Effective Communication
Among Diverse People
5. Cultures are Complex and Diverse Groups
There are Vast Differences Within Each Group
Wealth, Income, Education, and Lifestyle
Within Each Major Ethnic Group are Many
Distinctive Subgroups
Culturally Proficient Leaders
Recognize Intracultural Differences and Educate
Others
Culturally Proficient Schools
Create an Environment of Trust, Safety, and
Inclusion of All People Who Work and Learn There
6. Educators Have Learned to Acknowledge
Different Modalities of Learning
Different Learning Styles, Different Cognitive Styles,
and the Different Ways People Process Information
Culturally Proficient Educators
Teaches and Encourages Colleagues of the Dominant
Culture to Adapt to Meet the Needs of the Diverse
Group of Students
Provide Same Benefits and Privileges as Members of
the Dominant Group in Society
7. Cultural Proficiency
Provides Authentic Ways to Support Student
Achievement
Assumes the School Setting Includes the Community and
Parents
Effective and Meaningful Partnerships Between
Parents and Schools Require Sensitive, Respectful,
and Caring School Leaders Who are Willing to
Learn the Nature and Culture of the Community
and Identify Barriers
8. Cultural Leaders
Must Have a Good Relationship with Parents,
Families, and Communities
Must Educate the Parents, Families, and
Communities to the School Culture
9. Awareness of Issues of Systemic Oppression by All
Educators is Fundamental to Effective Cross-
Cultural Communication
Microaggregations are Usually Unnoticed by the
Dominate Group
Educators Must Be Aware of Specific Dynamics
and Employ Strategies to Engage Parents as
Partners in Placement to Best Meet the Needs of
their Child
10. The School System Must Incorporate Cultural
Knowledge into Practice and Policymaking
Culturally Proficient Educators
Are Self-Consciously Aware of Their own Cultures
and Cultures of the School
Must Assess and Raise Consciousness About Their
Own Individual and Organizational Cultures
Teach the Cultural Expectations of the School to All
Find People to Assist in Bridging the School with the
Community
Use their Own Expertise to Share Information and
Institutionalize it
11. By Using these Guiding Principles, Your School
or District Can Become Culturally Proficient
You Need Strong Organizational Core Values
Use these Ideas to Redesign and Restructure
Your Classrooms, Schools, and District
12. Lindsey, R.B.; Robins, K.N.: Terrell, R.D. ( 2009
) Cultural proficiency: a manual for school
leaders. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Sage.
