Challenges experıenced by resıdentıal school staff and tacklıng these challenges

The aim of this study is to discover the challenges experienced by boarding school teachers and school administrators during the covid 19 pandemic and to find strategies for addressing these challenges. In line with this aim a phenomenology was used among the qualitative research designs. The participants of the study were 15 school administrators, deans in charge of student residences and teachers who work at student residences from residential schools in Turkey. Data collected from the participants via semi structured interviews was analysed content analysis method.The collected data pointed at four separate themes: administrative issues, nature of residential schools, management of emotions and changes after the pandemic. In this context it was discovered that school administrators had various problems managing the process, school administrators and teachers who worked at student residences had challenges communicating with the parents, students had issues orienting back to communal life when they returned to the residences after the precautions were removed, students strayed away from residential school traditions and that both school administrators and teachers who worked at student residences had considered quitting. The results of the study suggest that it is required to reconsider the administrative and organisational charts in residential schools, to provide regular training and professional support for teachers and administrators working at student residences, and to make the necessary arrangements to provide teachers and administrators on-campus accommodation. Key Words: Residential school, boarding school, covid-19, residential teachers