5: Leading With Full Community Engagement: Facing and Overcoming Multiple Pandemics Together

One would find it difficult to locate an educator not currently lamenting the many issues plaguing schools today. COVID-19 and its consequences, growing racial tensions, discussions surrounding the state of US democracy, economic uncertainty, climate change, and growing desires for censorship in curricula are but a few of the many Pandemics educational leaders face when attempting to create safe, rigorous learning environments for students. The effects of these obstacles on school leaders is seldom discussed as learning opportunities to refine school policy and practice. Nonetheless, leaders meeting their learners’ needs in the midst of these multiple Pandemics may find opportunities to refine their practices out of sheer necessity.