“ They Don’t Know What They Need”: A Call for Critical Reflection in Community School Leadership to Address the Pervasive Creep of Deficit Perspectives

Abstract

Washington Hunt is an urban community school attempting to balance the implementation of equity initiatives that meet the needs of minoritized students and families while preventing the adoption of deficit perspectives among school staff. The purpose of this case is to describe how “deficit-creep”—the subtle infusion of deficit-based perspectives from well-meaning administrators—can thwart sincere attempts at community building and social justice. This case study provides an opportunity for emerging leaders to use critical reflexivity to identify deficit-creep and shed light on the strengths and assets of the community it serves. Finally, this case provides students with an opportunity to grapple with how policy makers and school leaders make sense of inequity that is linked to classism and racism.