Abstract
Rural school principals faced many challenges through the disruptions of the Covid-19 Pandemic, including their ability to deliver consistent, high-quality education to rural learners. These principals had to quickly learn and adapt to new practices that could permanently transform the school principalship for the future. Principals’ duties multiplied overnight with focusing on the additional needs of students and staff. Although the field of education has been majorly disrupted through past events such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, which caused school principals’ priorities to change instantaneously, with decisions often being made on a reactionary basis to ever-changing circumstances. The impact was neither as great nor long-lasting compared to the Covid-19 Pandemic. This study explores the rural school leader through the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic, utilizing the experiences and perspectives of principals and certified staff. The researcher utilized 20 pairings of data within the research, emulating a 360-degree focus between administrator and staff member. Overall, the research found that the following were more prevalent during the pandemic than prior: principal’s communication with students and their families, principal’s communication with staff, principal’s communication with the school nurse, and principal’s communication with other leaders. Additionally, it was found that the following were more prevalent during the pandemic than prior: principal’s awareness of the personal needs of students and their families, and principal’s awareness of the personal needs of staff.
Date Dissertation Completed
4-2022
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate of Education
Department
Education Studies
Dissertation Advisor
Raymond Martinez
Dissertation Committee Members
Raymond Martinez, Meghan Sinning, Steven Baule
Location
Winona, Minnesota
Recommended Citation
Kent, Brennan J., "The Rural Education Leadership Experience Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of School Principals and Staff" (2022). Education Doctorate Dissertations. 14.
https://openriver.winona.edu/educationedddissertations/14
