Abstract:

The purpose of this research is to identify the problems that school managers face during the Covid-19 pandemic process and the lessons they get out of these problems. The research has been used by the phenomenology, which is one of the quality research patterns. The research work group consists of 21 school managers working in the province of Gaziantep. School managers included in the work group are determined by the maximum diversity sample method. The diversity of the work group is provided with characteristics such as gender, age, school level, educational status and management status. The data of the study was collected through a semi-configured interview form prepared by the researchers. The data obtained was analyzed through the content analysis method. The results of the analyses found that school managers had the most sudden and frequent changes in decisions, the insufficiency of teachers in using technology, the access of students to remote education, the participation of students in remote education, the motivation of students and teachers, and the communication between stakeholders. However, the school managers have seen the most of this process to develop crisis management skills, pay more attention to hygiene in schools, develop the online educational infrastructure, take the views of local actors in central decisions, develop the skills of remote school management and design of alternative practices related to the educational process. In light of the findings and the results obtained, recommendations have been developed.

Keywords:

Abstract:

This study aimed at determining the problems encountered by school administrators during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lessons learned. Phenomenology, one of the qualitative research designs, was used in the study. The study group consisted of 21 school administrators working in Gaziantep. The respondents were determined through the maximum diversity sampling method. The diversity of the study group was based on the characteristics such as gender, age, school level, educational background, and management experience. A semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers was used to collect the research data. The obtained data were analyzed through content analysis. As a result of the study, it was determined that school administrators mostly experienced the problems of sudden and frequent changes of decisions, teachers’ inability to use technology, students’ access to distance education, student participation in distance education, motivating students and teachers, and ensuring communication between the stakeholders. However, it was observed that school administrators mostly learned from challenges to develop crisis management skills, to attach more importance to hygiene at schools, to develop an online education infrastructure, to take the opinions of local actors regarding central decrees, to develop distance school management skills, and to design alternative practices for the educational procedures. Practical recommendations were given in light of the obtained findings and results of the study.