School leadership during a pandemic: navigating tensions
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title><jats:p>This paper explores, from the perspective of an Australian pracademic, how school leaders are leading during the global COVID-19 pandemic.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title><jats:p>This essay explores the tensions navigated by school leaders leading during this time of global crisis, by looking to research as well as the author's lived experience.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title><jats:p>The author finds that school leaders are navigating the following: accountability and autonomy; equity and excellence; the individual and the collective and well-being and workload.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title><jats:p>This paper offers insights into school leadership, at all times but especially during times of crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic.</jats:p></jats:sec>