Dissertation Defense Announcement Ed.D. Program: Heather Shanklin “Principal Leadership Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic”

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted school operations and required principals to lead their communities through prolonged uncertainty. The purpose of this case study was to develop an understanding of crisis leadership in schools by examining school principals’ practices, values, beliefs, and leadership traits throughout the COVID-19 global health crisis in the Dunbar Regional School District (DRSD). This qualitative case study examined the leadership practices and lessons learned by fourteen principals in the DRSD during the pandemic. Data from principal interviews and school artifacts were analyzed to identify patterns across participants’ experiences. Turbulence Theory and the Meta-Leadership framework informed the interpretations of how principals responded to changing conditions, supported their communities, and maintained school functioning. While each principal’s experience was unique, a clear pattern emerged across the cases: four key factors enabled principals to respond rapidly to evolving conditions and mitigate the crisis. Principals problem-solved with creativity and flexibility to reimagine fundamental aspects of schooling including, new modes of instruction,…