| This study describes a public school district pursuing equity and excellence. Cultural proficiency is defined as the policies and practices of an organization or the values and behaviors of an individual that enables that agency or person to interact effectively in a culturally diverse environment. This concept is suggested as a component that is critical to the development of equity in the learning organization. Using this district as a case study, it examines how elementary school principals work towards their understanding equity and identify patterns in their beliefs and practices which may be contributing to the problem of the achievement gap.;The second part of the study sampled 13 elementary principals using a structured interview format focusing on five topics as they relate to cultural proficiency; beliefs, practices, relationships, environment, and personal experience. This research reports the analyzed data that originated with self-described experiences of principals regarding each topic.;Results from the study indicate that principals must actively work to understand and act upon diversity in their schools and communities in order to be effective in their endeavors related to cultural proficiency. Additional key elements include the importance of reflective practice, modeling culturally proficient behavior, and employing the dispositions of empathy and understanding in one's efforts to become a culturally competent leader. Without these and other factors, principals may fail to recognize the policies and practices in their school that prevent minority students from realizing the same educational opportunities as students in the dominant culture.;This study was constructed in two parts with each part having a key research question. The first question focused on determining the intercultural sensitivity of all administrators in the school district. Results from this portion of the study indicate that compared to the administrative team as a whole, elementary principals reflect a high degree of intercultural sensitivity. Additional descriptions of this cohort's intercultural profile are reported. |
