Backtalk: What principals need to know to respond to a crisis

Abstract

Principals face unexpected crises, big and small, regularly. Yet, as the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated, they aren’t always prepared for them when they come. Mario Jackson describes some of the challenges principals faced during the pandemic and the specific attributes that helped them manage. Specifically, equity-oriented leadership, crisis communication, and emotional intelligence skills were crucial to leaders during the pandemic. These skills can be beneficial in a variety of crises, and Jackson suggests that principal preparation programs help leaders grow in these areas.