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Educational Leadership In A Mayan Village In Southern Belize: Challenges Faced By A Mayan Woman Principal, Yanira Oliveras, Wesley D. Hickey

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

A Mayan woman principal taking a position in a historically paternalistic village in Southern Belize faces inevitable challenges due to the cultural structure of the village. In this case, the challenges go beyond cultural norms. Mrs. Po, a Mopan woman leading a school in a Kekchi village, faces challenges related to her role as a teaching principal in a multigrade school, her lack of leadership preparation, the remoteness of the village, and the language barrier, among others. The reader is encouraged to ponder the myriad of issues that impact the principal’s efforts to improve the education system while working in …