Hurricanes, Schools, and the Ethics of Care and Community: A Narrative Study of School Leadership
Location
1047
Format Type
Event
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
January 2019
Abstract
This presentation will discuss a narrative study that described how professional ethics were reflected in the practices and experiences of school leaders supervising community disaster shelters in Central Florida in 2017 during Hurricane Irma. The study applied two frameworks of school service, Ethic of Community and Ethic of Care, to understand how values shaped these leaders’ experiences as they worked with shelter guests. Analysis was guided by five domains of responsibility proposed by Starratt (2006) that are central to educational leadership: Responsibility as a human being; responsibility as a citizen and public servant; responsibility as an educator; responsibility as an educational administrator; and responsibility as an educational leader. Researchers interviewed principals, plant managers, and food service managers to learn their experiences and insights and capture common themes. By describing and analyzing the insights of these leaders, researchers gained a better understanding of the ways that school leaders applied their own sense of ethics in responding to the needs of those within their care. This study provides insight into ways that school leaders extend their leadership and care into the community beyond the specific school shareholders. It further explains the value and function of public schools within a democracy.
Keywords
Educational Leadership, Leadership Ethics, Ethics of Care and Community, Narrative Analysis
Hurricanes, Schools, and the Ethics of Care and Community: A Narrative Study of School Leadership
1047
This presentation will discuss a narrative study that described how professional ethics were reflected in the practices and experiences of school leaders supervising community disaster shelters in Central Florida in 2017 during Hurricane Irma. The study applied two frameworks of school service, Ethic of Community and Ethic of Care, to understand how values shaped these leaders’ experiences as they worked with shelter guests. Analysis was guided by five domains of responsibility proposed by Starratt (2006) that are central to educational leadership: Responsibility as a human being; responsibility as a citizen and public servant; responsibility as an educator; responsibility as an educational administrator; and responsibility as an educational leader. Researchers interviewed principals, plant managers, and food service managers to learn their experiences and insights and capture common themes. By describing and analyzing the insights of these leaders, researchers gained a better understanding of the ways that school leaders applied their own sense of ethics in responding to the needs of those within their care. This study provides insight into ways that school leaders extend their leadership and care into the community beyond the specific school shareholders. It further explains the value and function of public schools within a democracy.
Comments
Breakout Session C