The relationship between basic education institution managers' strategic leadership approaches and crisis management skills

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the strategic leadership approaches of basic education institution administrators and their crisis management skills, according to teacher perceptions. In this quantitative research, a descriptive relational survey model was employed. The population of the study comprises 328 teachers who are working in basic education institutions in Zonguldak province and its districts during the 2023-2024 academic year, selected through stratified sampling method. The data for the research were collected using the "Strategic Leadership Scale," "Crisis Management Scale," and "Personal Information Form". For the statistical analysis of the obtained data, frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation values were considered, and Pearson Correlation and Simple Linear Regression Analysis were used. According to the analysis results, it was observed that teachers have positive perceptions regarding the strategic leadership and crisis management skills of school administrators. In the Strategic Leadership Scale, it was observed that the highest average belongs to the ethical practices sub-dimension, while the lowest average was found in the managerial practices sub-dimension. A statistically significant, highly positive relationship has been found between strategic leadership and the sub-dimensions of ethics, communication, and transformation. It has been observed that there is a statistically significant, low-level positive relationship between pre-crisis activities and managerial, ethical, and communicational practices. The strategic leadership approaches of basic education institution administrators significantly and positively predict their crisis management skills. It has been concluded that as administrators' strategic leadership approaches increase, their crisis management skill levels also increase.