An Examination of School Administrators’ Crisis Management Skills
Keywords:
School Administrator, Educational Administration, Crisis Management, Crisis Management Skills Abstract
In today’s world, educational institutions are not merely structures that transmit knowledge; they are also organizations that support individuals' social, emotional, and psychological development, while fostering sensitivity to societal crises. In this context, the crisis situations that educational institutions may face are increasing and becoming more complex. Therefore, crisis management in schools has become critically important in terms of ensuring the sustainability of educational processes and the safety of stakeholders. In this regard, the present study aimed to identify the crisis management skills of school administrators. For this purpose, a survey model—a type of descriptive research design—was employed. The study population consisted of 386 school administrators working in various cities across Türkiye during the 2024–2025 academic year. As data collection tools, a demographic information form and a Crisis Management Scale were administered to participants. Quantitative data analysis methods were used in analyzing the research data, and the data were processed using the SPSS 24 statistical analysis program. According to the findings, there was no statistically significant difference between male and female administrators in terms of their crisis management skills. However, the crisis management skills of principals were found to be higher than those of vice-principals. It was also observed that administrators who had received crisis management training exhibited higher levels of skills across all crisis stages (before, during, and after the crisis) compared to those who had not received such training. Furthermore, strong and significant positive correlations were identified among crisis management skills before, during, and after a crisis.
References
Aksu, A., & Devecı, S. (2009). İlköğretim okulu müdürlerinin kriz yönetimi becerileri. Education Sciences, 4(2), 448-464.
Alajmi, B. M., & Al-Qallaf, C. L. (2018). Crisis-management content in LIS curricula: Developing a model for future improvement. Journal of library administration, 58(7), 645-673.
Alenezi, M. (2023). Digital learning and digital institution in higher education. Education Sciences, 13(1), 88.
Babayiğit, E. C. (2024). Okul yöneticilerinin kriz yönetim becerileri ile öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılık düzeyleri ve iş tatmini düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkilerinin incelenmesi. Yüksek Lisans Tezi,
Bush, T., & Heystek, J. (2006). School Leadership and Management in South Africa: principals' perceptions. International Studies in Educational Administration (Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration & Management (CCEAM)), 34(3).
Çalışkan, A. (2020). Kriz yönetimi: Bir ölçek geliştirme çalışması. Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5(2), 108-123.
Gainey, B. S. (2010). Educational crisis management practices tentatively embrace the new media. The handbook of crisis communication, 301-318.
Griffard, M. R., Davis, C. R., & Ceja-Rodriguez, M. (2025). Managing in a Storm of Chaos: The Ecology of School Principals’ Crisis Management. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 01623737241310852.
Haban, M. M., & Bozkurt, B. (2017). Ortaöğretim okul yöneticilerinin kriz yönetimi becerilerinin kurumun sosyal sermaye birikimine etkisi. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 46(213), 139-153.
Ira, N., & Yalçin, G. (2022). Relationship of Crisis Management of School Principals and Psychological Capital of Teachers. Online Submission, 11(1), 47-60.
Ira, N., & Yalçin, G. (2022). Relationship of Crisis Management of School Principals and Psychological Capital of Teachers. Online Submission, 11(1), 47-60.
Karakuş, A., & İnandı, Y. (2018). Ortaokul yöneticilerinin okullarında yaşanan kriz durumlarını yönetme becerilerinin incelenmesi. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 14(2), 500-518.
Lee Collins, C. (2007). Threat assessment in the post-Columbine public school system: The use of crisis management plans in the public school sector as a means to address and mitigate school gun violence. International Journal of Educational Advancement, 7, 46-61.
Liou, Y. H. (2015). School crisis management: A model of dynamic responsiveness to crisis life cycle. Educational Administration Quarterly, 51(2), 247-289.
Okotoni, O., & Okotoni, A. (2003). Conflict management in secondary schools in Osun State, Nigeria. Nordic journal of African studies, 12(1), 16-16.
Ozkayran, S. E., Yetis Abali, A., & Abali, A. (2020). The Opinions of Teachers on Crisis Management in Guidance Services. Educational process: international journal, 9(4), 205-220.
Özdemir, G., Sahin, S., & Özdemir, S. T. (2024). Behaviors Related to Primary School Principals' Crisis Management Skills: In the Context of the February 6th 2023 Earthquake. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 82(2), 252-274.
Peerbolte, S. L., & Collins, M. L. (2013). Disaster management and the critical thinking skills of local emergency managers: Correlations with age, gender, education, and years in occupation. Disasters, 37(1), 48-60.
Sağlam, A. Ç., & Özsezer, S. (2024). Liselerde okul yöneticilerinin kriz yönetme becerileri. The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies, 4(34), 1-14.
Tokel, A., Ozkan, T., & Dagli, G. (2017). Crisis management skills of school administrators in terms of school improvement: scale development. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 13(11), 7573-7579.
Yıldırım, K., & Yaşar, Ö. (2024). Evaluating crisis management performance of turkish school administrations: covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Theoretical Educational Science, 17(2), 376-403.