In this rich and engaging year-long critical ethnography of parental involvement, Echeverri-Sucequia takes readers inside a culturally and ethnically diverse K-8 school expressly committed to inclusive multicultural education. Privileging the voices, experiences, and cultural capital of limited English proficient immigrant and sojourner families, she uncovers the systemic, structural, and cultural barriers to genuine parent involvement in schools, even in spite of the best intentions of educators. She shows the importance of moving beyond deficit orientations toward building solidarity with families as part of ensuring that all students thrive in schools. Fitting In: Voices from Ethnic and Linguistic Minority Parents is an invaluable resource in the quest to raise achievement among students who historically struggle the most, and to create schools that are welcoming, diverse, equitable, and just.
Paula A. Echeverri-Sucerquia is a professor at the School of Languages, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia. After pursuing doctoral studies in Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, she has focused her teaching, research, and writing on the intricate relation between language, culture, and identity from a critical perspective. She has taught courses on critical pedagogy, critical language education, and curriculum development.