School Leadership in Times of Crisis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and school systems are additionally responding to constantly evolving circumstances. The waves of school closures and reopenings around the world have clearly demonstrated how important good leadership is to learning in all forms. As the pandemic continues, we know that a return to ‘normal’ will not be enough to improve the life chances of the generation whose education has been so disrupted during this time. New thinking driven by strong leadership is needed if we are to create more inclusive, equitable systems that can promote quality education for every child.

School leaders balance strategic and operational leadership. Shared vision and moral purpose anchor their decisions and align operations with strategy. They must consider a range of impacts individual, organization, well-being, learning, performance, staffing, financial implications, management of resources and sustainability of business while keeping all of their individual people in mind. To make effective decisions, they must know the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of their contexts but also best practice occurring elsewhere and the best available evidence of what is likely to work. In a crisis such as the one in which we are currently existing, perfection is the enemy of progress. School leaders are caught in the unfavourable position of being the pinch point in the system. They are reliant on guidance about COVID-19 responses, processes, procedures, and protocols. These can change, almost overnight, depending on how the virus develops. School leaders on this journey are defined by their determination, their hope, and their unshakable belief that whatever happens, whatever the cost, whatever the scale of the challenge, they will continue to do everything in their power to safeguard the learning of all young people.

Leadership is not a title but an action, a behaviour, a practice, a doing and a way of being. For example in Al Hekma International school Bahrain (AHIS) we included new leadership styles like empowering middle school management to become coaches and mentors in driving positive change in teaching and learning. They are engaged in sensemaking as they lead equitable implementation of revised policies, consider their effects on teachers and students, and determine modes of communicating with relevant stakeholders.

Students leadership is also very important , leadership by students that is about influence and impact through action, rather than assigned teachers task  is happening now as students work to find learning solutions for their selves and classmates within the parameters of their school and classroom contexts. AHIS students are regularly surveyed about decisions and/or activities taking place. They share their feedback about many important decisions such as learning models, PSAT tests, project assessments, graduation ceremony, electives, honors and much more. Involving students will make them more engaged and therefore affect positively on their academic performance.