ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some case studies of urban principals with a focus on their priorities, actions, successes, and shortcomings. It highlights the principal's commitment to community, families, students, and teachers. These cases illustrate the personal commitments, situational awareness, advocacy, critical reflection, and technical expertise of principals in low-opportunity communities trying to make a difference. Saenz Elementary School (ES) is in El Paso, Texas, a city directly adjacent to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Some Saenz students cross an international bridge from Mexico each day to attend school while others are El Paso residents. Villa ES is also in the El Paso area and located within walking distance to the border and an international bridge. The chapter explains how Mexican and Mexican-American students are marginalized due to limited school resources, a culturally irrelevant curriculum, and deficit views of English language learners (ELLs). Dual language was a central component to creating a more inclusive and high-performing school, but parent engagement continued to lag.
