Teacher opinions on the effect of school principal's crisis solving skills on teacher's professional satisfaction

The purpose of this research is to reveal the effect of school principals crisis resolution skills on teacher's professional satisfaction. The research was created using qualitative research method. The research was carried out using phenomenology, which is one of the qualitative research method designs. The study group used in the research consists of 20 teachers working in primary, secondary and high schools in Turhal district of Tokat province in the 2023-2024 academic year, selected using the maximum diversity sampling method from purposeful sampling methods. Semi-structured interview technique was used to collect the data and 10 open-ended questions were asked to the participants. The data obtained within the scope of the research were examined and analysed from a descriptive perspective. The teachers participating in the study expressed the concept of crisis as unplanned negativity, problem, problem, threat, conflict and stress, anxiety, depression. According to the participant teachers, the crisis management attitudes of school principals were divided into two as positive attitudes and negative attitudes. Positive attitudes were stated as taking ideas, communicating, forming a crisis team, staying calm, determining the sphere of influence, identifying the causes, giving confidence, listening to the parties and being a leader, while negative attitudes were stated as miscommunication, acting biased, authoritarianism, gossiping and panic. Participant teachers stated their crisis resolution skills as composure, making the right decision, effective communication, taking precautions, foreseeing the crisis, establishing a crisis management team, leadership, being fair and impartial, and building trust. Participant teacher's perceptions of professional satisfaction consist of the concepts of professional happiness, professional pleasure, professional satisfaction, fulfilment of expectations from the profession and professional satisfaction. According to the opinions of the participant teachers, the reasons why school principals crisis resolution skills affect teacher's professional satisfaction are trust, peace, being valued, justice, belonging, courage, stress and tension. According to the opinions of the participant teachers, the results of the effects of principals crisis resolution skills on teachers' professional satisfaction are productivity, healthy school environment, motivation, co-operation, happiness and pleasure. Participant teachers suggested in-service training, communication training, case study, literature review, meeting and authorisation to improve the crisis resolution skills of school principals. As a result of the research, it was found that the crisis resolution skills of school principals affect the professional satisfaction of teachers, therefore, it is recommended that school principals should participate in studies to improve themselves in terms of crisis, crisis management issues and the skills necessary to resolve the crisis, and it is thought that the professional satisfaction of teachers will increase with the studies to be carried out in this direction.