A Sample of Selected Secondary School Leader Perceptions of Necessary Skills Before, During, and After the Coronavirus Pandemic

• Main Author: Strittmatter, Matthew James
• Other Authors: Counselor Education
• Format: Others
• Published: Virginia Tech 2021
• Subjects: global pandemic; coronavirus; equity; principal leadership; organizational structures; effectiveness and efficiency of education; global education; and leadership characteristics.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/102865

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of principals from around the world regarding the perceived skill set necessary for success before, during, and after the coronavirus pandemic. While many school facilities closed during the public health crisis, the learning continued. During the pandemic, educational leaders were tasked with creating environments that allowed students to thrive academically, behaviorally, and emotionally from beyond the classroom walls. By identifying the perceived skill set required to lead an effective school building before and then during the pandemic, a greater understanding of the future of education can be ascertained. The study involved interviewing fourteen school leaders from around the world (seven from the United States and seven internationally). The interview questions probed the perceived necessary skills for the functioning of successful school buildings prior to, during, and then after the coronavirus pandemic. The outcome of the study provides opportunities for school leaders and human resource personnel to identify characteristics essential for success in a world changed by the global pandemic. By analyzing the perceptions of necessary skills to lead successful schools during the coronavirus crisis through a comparative approach, a dedication of resources for improving the quality of the leadership within school buildings moving forward can be adapted. === Doctor of Education === The global coronavirus health crisis greatly impacted schools, learning, and leadership. Through a comparative approach, we have an opportunity to learn from each other and make crucial changes moving forward to garner more success. The influence of comparative education on school leadership preparation was identified in the review of literature. American and international school leaders who were impacted by the coronavirus was the specific area the researcher focused on for this study. This qualitative study focused on the perceptions of school leaders on the skills necessary for success before, during, and then after the health crisis. Data was collected through the interviews of fourteen school leaders (seven from the United States and seven from around the world). Through this study, the researcher identified seven findings and four implications. One limitation for this study was the small sample size. A suggestion for future research would be to investigate how important the vision of a school building is to the overall leadership attributes by interviewing the leadership teams and then the teachers they serve to discover if there is alignment by triangulating student assessment data, staff climate surveys, and student climate surveys.