The Year of Letting Go and Holding On: Principals' Role During Phase II of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Seventeen
  In Roundtable Session: The Lived Experience of Leaders Engaged in School Improvement (Table 5)

Abstract

This qualitative study encompasses Phase-II of a longitudinal investigation of the experiences of school principals during the compound crisis that included the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustices, and the social, emotional, and health disruptions, during the 2021-22 school year. It centers on capturing the voices, perspectives and lived reality of school principals. Four findings emerged: shifting priorities of principals, school with an asterisk, the principal’s role to lead and manage through the continuing crisis, and our need for “normalcy” but what does that mean? These leaders were consumed with health, safety, and instructional challenges, which distracted them from their Phase-I goals of intentionally addressing issues of equity.

Authors

• Daniel Reyes-Guerra, Florida Atlantic University
  Presenting Author

• Patricia Maslin-Ostrowski, Florida Atlantic University
  Presenting Author

• Maysaa Y. Barakat, Florida Atlantic University
  Presenting Author

• John E. Critelli, Florida Atlantic University
  Presenting Author