Seismic Leadership, Hope, and Resiliency: Stories of Two Christchurch Schools Post-Earthquake

Abstract

This article takes the form of a research report which examines personal resiliency and a sense of hope among educational leaders in times of extreme crises. Findings indicated that, despite the trauma of an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, school leaders were still able to find satisfying aspects in their jobs, and to display a range of coping strategies and positivity as their schools transition toward a state of “new normal.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This article is dedicated to the schools and people of Christchurch.

Ehara taku toa, I te toa takitahi engari he toa takatini:

“My strength comes not from myself alone but from the strength of the group”

Notes

1. These fatalities occurred in the central business district. No fatalities were reported in any of the city’s affected schools.

2. New Zealand primary and secondary schools are given a decile rating from one to ten, with decile-ten schools having the highest socioeconomic status. The rating is based on families with school-age children and includes ethnic make-up, household income, benefit dependency, household crowding, and other factors.