Malverne High School

Malverne School District is proud to announce that Dr. Kesha Bascombe, principal of Malverne High School, has been selected to present her original research at the prestigious 2026 American Educational Research Association annual meeting. AERA is the largest gathering of education researchers in the world and will be held this April in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Bascombe's paper, titled “Breaking Barriers: Black Women's Leadership Attainment and Experiences in Predominantly White School Districts,” was selected for a paper session dedicated to "Aspirations, Achievement, and Attainment: Unforgetting Structural Barriers."

The research focuses on the lived experiences of 14 Black women serving as educational leaders across the United States. It specifically examines the intersection of race and gender and the systemic challenges they navigate in ascending to and thriving in middle and upper management roles. The study emphasizes how these leaders employ key strategies – including resilience, intentional advocacy, mentorship, authenticity and overperformance – to successfully navigate and challenge exclusionary leadership paradigms.

"This is a moment of immense pride for our district," said Dr. Maria Rianna, Superintendent of Schools. "Dr. Bascombe's work not only highlights the powerful, resilient strategies employed by Black women leaders but also aligns directly with Malverne's commitment to equity, diversity and excellence in educational leadership. Her findings will contribute valuable, actionable insights that can help transform P-12 leadership pipelines nationally."

Dr. Bascombe stated, "I am honored to share this research on a national platform. My hope is that by centering the voices of Black women leaders, we can illuminate the structural barriers that still exist and provide practical steps for districts to create truly equitable environments where all talented leaders can thrive. This work has already begun to inform my practice and conversations right here in Malverne."