A Storm’s Lighthouse: Learning From Black Principals' Experiences Navigating Emergency Responses

• In Event: Leadership Insights From BIPOC Principals

Abstract

While researchers started to pay attention to crisis leadership, this research does not account for the role of race and racism nor does it include the voices of Black principals. This study's purpose is to expand the research on crisis leadership to understand how Black principals are defining emergency crises and to analyze the racialized experiences of Black principals’ decision-making and response implementation during emergency crises. When drawing on counterstories within critical race theory and conducting interviews with Southern Black principals, our preliminary findings discovered an expanded definition of non-traditional crises, a need for multi-lateral communication across all stakeholders, and Black principals leading a coordinated care nexus response.

Authors

• Kimberly Clarida, Michigan State University

• Michael Reid Jr, University of Texas at Austin