Crisis Leadership: Voices from the Field

Abstract

This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach and the Marianist characteristics as a conceptual framework to understand the experiences of six lay Marianist educational leaders during COVID-19. Findings indicate that, during the pandemic, leaders were faced with specific challenges: receiving an excess of information, facing inequity in technology, serving students with various learning needs, and attending to the socioemotional health of students and teachers. Despite these di f iculties, the leaders were able to uphold the Marianist characteristics of educating for adapta tion and change, in family spirit, and for formation in faith. This study is significant because it provi des unique perspectives on how leaders of a Marianist urban high school were able to advance their mission during a global health pandemic. The study also adds to the crisis and Marianist leadership bodies of literature.