From crisis leadership to digital and inclusive leadership in the aftermath of the pandemic

ABSTRACT

The sudden closure of educational institutions amid the pandemic compelled school administrators to manage the crisis with little reaction time. Despite the stringent and exigent predicament, school principals had to amend and modify their leadership technique by adapting to varying levels of academic, technological, operational, and personal relationship support. Through this approach, a robust pledge and coalition with the education community have been reinforced, but there is also an increasing anxiety concerning the widening education gap among the underprivileged. This research aims to investigate the development of digital leadership during the lockdown, the specific training school principals received in digital and comprehensive education, as well as their training demands in this regard. This study focuses exclusively on data from school principals in Spain, although it is part of a larger international project. The results of this study emphasised the school principals in Spain, revealing a significant divergence in the crisis leadership development during the lockdown, inadequate previous training concerning diversity inclusion in schools, pedagogical leadership, particularly digital leadership. Additionally, it was found that the most vulnerable students were even more susceptible during the lockdown. Finally, the study concludes with a series of suggestions for leadership training in digital and inclusive practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Crisis leadership
• digital leadership
• digital inclusion
• Covid-19
• school principal
• equity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by European Union [grant number 2021-1-ES01-KA220-SCH-000024243].

Notes on contributors

Antonia Lozano-Díaz

Antonia Lozano-Díaz is a full professor in the area of Theory of Education at the University of Almería, and is part of CEMyRI (Center for Research on Migration and Intercultural Relations).

Juan Sebastián Fernández-Prados

Juan Sebastián Fernández-Prados is Professor in the area of Sociology at the University of Almería, and is a member of CEMyRI (Center for Research on Migrations and Intercultural Relations).

Beatriz González-Martín

Beatriz González-Martín is Assistant Professor in the area of Human Geography at the University of Almería, and is a member of CEMyRI (Center for Research on Migration and Intercultural Relations).