Perceptions and experiences of K-12 educational leaders in response to the 27 April 2011 tornadoes

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to capture first-hand accounts of K-12 educational leaders whose school districts were directly affected by the deadly 27 April 2011 tornadoes in rural Alabama, USA. This study was framed by the literature base of leadership; specifically crisis leadership and resilience theory. Findings are organised under the headings of crisis management, crisis leadership characteristics, post-crisis support and crisis preparation. In this study, educational leaders demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity and took decisive steps to rebuild not only their schools but also their communities as well. Additionally, leaders expressed the importance of sharing their stories with others so that the lessons they learned in response to the tornadoes would not soon be forgotten. The study concludes with reflections about crisis planning and implications for future research as well as a call to action to improve crisis management in K-12 educational settings.

Keywords:

• K-12 education
• crisis leadership
• crisis management
• resilience theory
• tornadoes
• 27 April 2011 tornadoes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr William Bishop is the Director of Administrative Services for the Haleyville City School System. In this capacity, Dr Bishop is responsible for career and technical education, facilities, technology, textbooks and school safety. Prior to this position, Dr Bishop served as a high schoolteacher and assistant principal in rural Alabama schools.

Dr Matthew Fifolt is the Associate Director of the Evaluation and Assessment Unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition to his primary appointment in the School of Public Health, Dr Fifolt serves as an adjunct faculty member in the educational leadership programme at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr Gary B. Peters is an associate professor in the educational leadership programme at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to the professoriate, he served as a school administrator for over 20 years in Alabama and North Carolina.

Dr D. Keith Gurley is an assistant professor in the educational leadership programme at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to working at the university level, Dr Gurley served for over 20 years in public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator in Kansas and Missouri.

Dr Loucrecia Collins is an associate professor in the educational leadership programme at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to working at the university level, Dr Collins served as teacher and school administrator in Alaska. She currently serves as Programme Coordinator for all Educational Leadership degree programmes at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.