Storied Advice for Aspiring Latinas in Educational Leadership

Messages To My Daughter

Elsa Villarreal|Matthew J. Etchells
Emerald
Emerald

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Paperback / softback
9781806864003
21 May 2026
£36.99
Hardback
9781806863983
21 May 2026
£98.00
eBook (PDF)
9781806863976
30 April 2026
£36.99
eBook (ePub)
9781806863990
30 April 2026
£36.99

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  • Description
  • Contents
  • About

Storied Advice for Aspiring Latinas in Educational Leadership is a powerful anthology of lived wisdom, resilience, and cultural pride. Co-edited by Latina practitioners and researchers in K–12 and higher education, this collection offers deeply personal and transformative guidance for the next generation of Latina leaders.

Each chapter is a heartfelt consejo—a culturally rooted piece of advice—passed down with love, intention, and the hope of lighting the path for others. In Latino/a culture, consejos are more than words; they are teaching tools, vessels of shared knowledge, and acts of resistance against erasure. Through these stories, readers gain insight into the non-traditional and often challenging journeys of Latina educators who have carved out space in leadership despite systemic barriers.

This book speaks directly to every Latina who has ever been told, “Calladita te miras más bonita”—you look prettier when you're quiet. The authors respond in one unified voice, rejecting silence and embracing the power of truth-telling. Their experiences confront the realities of the glass ceiling, cultural stereotypes, and the lack of representation in leadership roles, while offering hope, strategy, and solidarity.

Whether you're an aspiring educator, a seasoned leader, or someone seeking to understand the Latina experience in education, this book is a call to action, a celebration of identity, and a roadmap for change.

Section 1. Advice for Aspiring Latinas in K-12 Educational Leadership

  • Chapter 1. Introduction; Elsa Villarreal and Matthew J. Etchells
  • Chapter 2. The Godmother; Martha Diana Salazar-Zamora
  • Chapter 3. Making Room at the Table: A Latina Leader’s Journey; Lupita Hinojosa
  • Chapter 4. Igniting Change; Gloria R. Vásquez
  • Chapter 5. If It Will Be Possible, Can We?; Iliana Perez
  • Chapter 6. Renovación: Renewal and Growth; Xochitl Salazar
  • Chapter 7. How did I Get Here; Elizabell Garcia
  • Chapter 8. You Come from Your Culture; Ana Castellanos-Williams
  • Chapter 9. Redirection: An Educator by Accident; Piedad Linda Rothey
  • Chapter 10. Persistence; Laila Hinojosa
  • Section 2. Advice for Aspiring Latinas in Higher Educational Leadership
  • Chapter 11. “Just give her a chance”: The Tensions of Navigating a Proud Cultural Identity and Racial Microaggressions as a Latina Educational Leader; Liliana Castrellón
  • Chapter 12. Perseverance: Don’t Be Afraid; Marla Hinojosa Ramirez
  • Chapter 13. Experiences of a Boricua Woman Resisting Colonialism and Patriarchy towards Liberation through Higher Education; Marta Angélica Mercado-Sierra
  • Chapter 14. Navigating My Cultural Identity; Melissa Arrambide
  • Chapter 15. My Learning Journey in Academia as a Peruvian; Maia Lamarque
  • Chapter 16. You Are Not Alone in This Journey; Mariana Marcos DeGante
  • Chapter 17. Conclusion; Elsa Villarreal and Matthew J. Etchells

Elsa Villarreal, Ph.D, is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at East Texas A&M University, USA.

Matthew J. Etchells, Ph.D, is an accomplished higher education researcher and K-12 practitioner, currently serving as Director of Strategic Leadership and Innovation with Houston ISD, USA, and is Special Advisor to the Center Directors, ELC & CRDLLA, Texas A&M University, USA.