Perspective on instructional leadership throughout a pandemic

This study investigated the primary research questions of: What is the nature of instructional leadership on practices during the COVID-19 pandemic? and What were teachers’ and principals’ perceptions of the most effective and/or helpful instructional leadership practices throughout the pandemic? It was conducted through qualitative methodology using semi structured interviews of two principals and two teachers. The themes identified by participants as being the most effective leadership practices during the pandemic included: fostering effective relationships with the school community, maintaining relational trust, focusing on the wellness of staff, and uniting the staff to work together towards a common vision of what is best for students. These leadership practices are also supported by literature and the LQS. Whether it is another pandemic, a time of crisis, or simply supporting one staff member who is going through a tough personal time; focusing on these leadership practices will help a principal through the situation. As Leithwood, Harris, and Hopkins (2008) claimed, principals have an impact on teachers’ emotions, motivations, commitments, beliefs, and in how supported they feel in their practice which in turn impacts student learning. Through fostering effective relationships with the school community, maintaining relational trust, focusing on the wellness of staff, and uniting the staff to work together towards a common vision of what is best for students; principals can engage in effective instructional leadership.

Authors

• Hughes, Sandi Darlene
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education

• instructional leadership
• pandemic challenges
• fostering effective relationships
• relational trust
• staff wellness
• effective leadership practices
• school community relationships
• staff support

Identifier

hdl:10133/6573

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/6573