Steering through the pandemic: narrative analysis of school leader experiences in India

Abstract

ABSTRACT The COVID −19 pandemic has disrupted the regular functioning of schools. Transitioning to online learning posed significant challenges to all stakeholders in the educational system. The continued changes and challenges due to the pandemic require school leaders to make intuitive decisions. School leaders’ vision and leadership styles can considerably impact successfully managing crises and challenges. The current study looks at the lived experiences of eight school leaders working in India. The data collected using an interview guide was subjected to narrative thematic analysis. The interviews were designed primarily in an open-ended manner to captivate the story of their experiences. The results yielded an understanding of how school leaders navigated through multiple challenges such as transitioning online, attending to student needs, financial challenges adopting crisis and collaborative leadership. The results highlight various personal feelings and experiences that helped the school leaders to hold up during the crisis. School leaders lack training in crisis management, and their mental health needs are neglected. The paper calls for professional support for school leaders in managing professional and personal challenges. The article gives direction for school professionals on focus areas and requirements in Indian schools.