The Reopening of a School during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Administrative Lens

Authors : James MARTINEZ, Lisa AMİCK, Sydney MCABEE

Pages : 515-552

Doi:10.30828/real/2021.2.5

View : 14 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2021-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In an effort to investigate school administrator self-efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, two public high school administrators in a Southeastern U. S. state were interviewed via computer teleconferencing during the first six weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. Additionally, the participants were surveyed before and after the study using questions from the Principal Self-Efficacy Survey insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PSES); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Tschannen-Moran & Gareis, 2004); as well as researcher-developed questions specifically related to work life during the pandemic. Using open systems theory as a theoretical perspective, the study revealed six emergent themes: insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(a); technology access/instruction, insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(b); informational/procedural ambiguity, insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(c); resource dependency, insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(d); policy adaptability, insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(e); stakeholder disposition, and insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(f); methods of communication. Focused on a principal and assistant principal at a single high school, this case-study illuminates the personal and professional challenges faced by these administrators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords : administration, self efficacy, equity, pandemic