Despite vaccinations being distributed in record-breaking time, the COVID surge continues to be a wearisome reality for the third consecutive school year. The ongoing pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis evoking strong and divisive emotions and disrupting PreK-12 education. A school principal leading in these demanding and chaotic circumstances faces relentless pressures, limited options, and sleepless nights.
Emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue have eroded school leaders’ job satisfaction, as evidenced by 42% of U.S. principals indicating they were considering leaving their position and 70% stating they had felt close to their breaking point (NASSP & LPI, 2020). A veteran Iowa school principal lamented, “I have been a principal for 20 years, and this was, by far, the most taxing year on me professionally, emotionally, and physically. I would have to change things in all three categories in order to survive another year in a pandemic.”
School leaders have carried the weighty responsibility for adhering to pandemic responses, processes, procedures, and protocols, many of which have changed overnight. Principal leadership has been critical to guiding school teams while avoiding professional burnout. To learn more, we administered a survey, which was completed by over 350 Iowa administrators, which found that leaders who not only thrive in uncertainty but retain positive job satisfaction demonstrate four vital leadership traits: purpose-driven, self-care, self-awareness, and self-efficacy.
To withstand adversity, leaders must hold firmly to their WHY. Effective school leaders are in the field due to their genuine care for students and belief in education as a lever for a better future. To quote one school principal from our survey, “Remember why you are in this profession…to serve students and see them grow and flourish through good times and bad times…to make a positive difference and impact on the lives of those we serve daily.”
School leaders are encouraged to visit classrooms, interact with students, and play alongside early learners. These brief moments with students can be meaningful reminders to leaders for why they got into education in the first place. Principals need to “Keep your eyes on the prize… Learning/growth opportunities exist within any problem or challenge presented.” Disruptions to the school year may require school leaders to find new ways to measure progress versus traditional attendance monitoring practices and standardized assessment results.
Licha ya chanjo kusambazwa kwa muda wa rekodi, ongezeko la COVID-19 linaendelea kuwa ukweli wa kuchosha kwa mwaka wa tatu mfululizo wa shule. "Mlipuko wa janga la COVID-19 umesababisha mgogoro usio na kifani ambao umesababisha hisia kali na za mgawanyiko na kusumbua elimu ya ""Pre-K-12.""" Msimamizi wa shule anayeongoza katika hali hizo zenye mkazo na zenye fujo anakabiliwa na mkazo usio na mwisho, chaguzi chache, na usiku usio na usingizi. "Kufikia sasa, ""uchovu wa kihemko na mwili umeathiri kuridhika kwa kazi ya viongozi wa shule, kama inavyoonyeshwa na 42% ya wakurugenzi wa shule nchini Marekani wakionyesha kuwa walikuwa wakifikiria kuacha nafasi yao na 70% wakisema walikuwa wamehisi karibu na hatua yao ya kuvunja.""" "Mkurugenzi wa shule mmoja wa Iowa alilalamika hivi: ""Nimekuwa mkurugenzi wa shule kwa miaka 20, na mwaka huu ulikuwa mwaka wenye kuleta matatizo makubwa zaidi kwangu kiufundi, kihisia-moyo, na kimwili." """Ningehitaji kubadilisha mambo katika makundi yote matatu ili kuokoka mwaka mwingine katika janga hili,"" alisema, akisema viongozi wa shule wamekuwa na jukumu kubwa la kufuata majibu ya janga hilo, taratibu na itifaki, ambazo nyingi zimebadilika usiku mmoja." Uongozi mkuu imekuwa muhimu kwa kuongoza timu za shule wakati wa kuepuka uchovu wa kitaaluma. "Kulingana na utafiti uliofanywa na wataalamu wa Iowa, ""Viongozi ambao hawapati tu mafanikio katika hali ya kutokuwa na uhakika, lakini pia wanadumisha kuridhika kwa kazi, huonyesha sifa nne muhimu za uongozi: lengo, kujitunza, kujitambua, na kujitosheleza.""" Ili kuvumilia magumu, viongozi lazima washikamane kwa uthabiti na KWA nini. Viongozi wa shule wenye ufanisi wako katika uwanja kwa sababu ya huduma yao ya kweli kwa wanafunzi na imani katika elimu kama lever kwa ajili ya siku zijazo bora. "Kumbuka kwa nini uko katika taaluma hii: ""Kutumikia wanafunzi na kuwaona wakikua na kusitawi kupitia nyakati nzuri na nyakati mbaya, kufanya tofauti chanya na athari kwa maisha ya wale tunaowahudumia kila siku.""" Wakati huu mfupi na wanafunzi unaweza kuwa kumbukumbu muhimu kwa viongozi kwa nini waliingia katika elimu kwanza. Wakurugenzi wanahitaji <unk>Keep your eyes on the prize... Learning/growth opportunities exist within any problem or challenge presented.<unk> Disruptions to the school year may require school leaders to find new ways to measure progress versus traditional attendance monitoring practices and standardized assessment results.