“ONE RECURRING THEME ACROSS ALL MY STUDIES was that schools are not just places of education but very often, especially in small communities, a hub of their communities. Communities look to schools as places of support and at principals and teachers as people who know what to do (even if that is not how they see themselves).
While each crisis context is new, there are some things we can learn from other on-going and post-disaster contexts. I have tried to provide advice for schools following any crisis based on my research in multiple disasters.”
-Professor Carol Mutch, Education Commissioner for UNESCO New Zealand and researcher in disaster response and recovery at the University of Auckland
Advice from School Leaders
What does leading through a crisis mean to you?
How did Covid-19 change your idea of leadership?
What advice would you give to school leaders when the next crisis strikes?
Advice from Teachers
How did your role as a teacher change?
How did you try to help children make sense of what was happening?
What is the most important learning you will take away from your Covid-19 experience?
Family violence and child abuse
The time following a disaster is difficult for everyone, but it is important to remember that this time can be even harder for some. Domestic abuse and all forms of family harm often increase due to the added pressure and stress; and witnessing or overhearing it, or being on the receiving end, can have life-long impacts. This advice is based on Briar O’Connor’s PhD research into school’s application of the Children’s Act.
