Date

Summer 8-9-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

Representation Matters: Strengthening Inclusion and Diversity for Elementary School Educators and Leadership Teams. Catalina Diaz, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: 504 plan (504), Emergent Bilingual (EB), Individual Educational Plan (IEP), cultural responsiveness, diversity, dual language, employee engagement, employee morale, English as a Second Language (ESL), English Language learners (ELL), equity, inclusive leadership, professional development, Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), servant leadership, Texas Education Agency (TEA), transformational leadership, workforce diversity.

This Strategic Research Project was designed to provide a framework for strengthening organizational effectiveness by promoting inclusive leadership, organizational engagement, and equitable leadership opportunities within an educational organization. The project addressed the organizational challenge of limited representation in leadership opportunities and the need to strengthen employee engagement, inclusive organizational practices, and shared decision-making for individuals, especially those from Hispanic cultural backgrounds. Through an organizational assessment that included a SWOT analysis, Internal and External Factor Evaluation (IFE/ EFE) matrices, and a comprehensive literature review that informed the identification and evaluation of strategic alternatives designed for the organization's mission, vision, and organizational challenges.

Findings indicated that organizations are more likely to achieve sustainable improvement when they intentionally value representation, diversity, inclusion, employee voice, collaborative leadership, and equitable opportunities for professional growth. Based on these findings, inclusive leadership and organizational engagement were identified as the recommended solution because they integrate strategic planning, employee engagement and collaboration, leadership development, and continuous evaluation into a comprehensive organizational framework that promotes improvement. The proposed year-long implementation plan includes organizational assessment and leadership development. Employee engagement initiatives, implementation monitoring, and ongoing evaluation that support organizational improvement.

Expected outcomes include increased employee collaboration and participation, enhanced organizational practices and culture, and improvement in organizational effectiveness. The project concluded that organizations that intentionally cultivate representation, diversity, inclusion, equitable leadership opportunities, and meaningful employee voice are better positioned to build collaborative organizational cultures, strengthen employees' commitment, and sustain long-term organizational effectiveness through strategic and inclusive leadership practices.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice

Concentration

Organizational Leadership

Language

English

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