Leadership and School Management during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Empirical Findings from Crisis Management

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the functioning of schools and has placed increased demands on leadership, organization, and effective crisis management. The aim of this paper is to analyse the issues of leadership and crisis management in the school environment during the COVID-19 pandemic based on available international studies and case studies. The paper focuses on identifying the responses of school leaders to unexpected crisis situations, proven management and leadership strategies, as well as factors that have influenced the continuity of education, communication, and organizational culture. The results show that school principals had to act quickly and proactively, make complex decisions, ensure effective and empathetic communication, and manage psychosocial and organizational challenges. Leadership based on empathy, flexibility, and team coordination, including the implementation of a hub-and-spoke model for rapid decision-making, proved to be an effective approach. Key factors influencing the functionality of school organizations included the ability to adapt to distance learning, providing psychological and social support, transparent communication, and equal access to educational materials for all students. The paper provides valuable insights for the future training of school leaders and increasing the resilience of school systems to crises.