A More Robust Theoretical Framework: Informing Educational Leadership During Times of a Compound Crisis

• In Event: Educational Leadership and the Responsibility for Inclusion

Abstract

School closures and remote re-openings due to the COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique challenge to leaders that required them to draw deeply on their reservoir of knowledge and expertise. This paper proposes a theoretical framework to guide educational leaders as they lead throughout a compound crisis. The theoretical framework identifies an amalgamation of five distinct leadership theories: Instructional Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Transformative Leadership, Adaptive Leadership and Crisis Leadership; each of which captures different elements of leadership that when put together present a more comprehensive, robust framework for leading schools during times of crisis. We argue that none of the proposed theories alone is adequate to address the compound crisis of COVID-19 and systemic racial inequity and economic hardship.

Authors

• Patricia Maslin-Ostrowski, Florida Atlantic University

• Maysaa Y. Barakat, Florida Atlantic University

• Daniel Reyes-Guerra, Florida Atlantic University