Browsing by Author "Lindström, Olivia"

Previous studies have shown that the workload has increased for teachers due to Covid-19, which can have affected their job satisfaction. At the same time, other challenges have been reported in the teaching profession that creates a concern regarding the number of teachers who want to change jobs. Research also shows that it has been challenging for principals to balance the various tasks of leadership during Covid-19, which raises questions regarding what kind of leadership needs to be prioritized by principals during a longer period of crisis. The purpose of this study was thus to find out what kind of support primary school teachers need to maintain job satisfaction during Covid-19, how primary school teachers describe principals' leadership and what kind of leadership primary school teachers consider important during Covid-19. Previous studies in the research area that concern primary school teachers' job satisfaction and principals' leadership were used as a background for the study. Seven certified primary school teachers with at least one year of work experience during Covid-19 participated in the study. The study used qualitative research methods and semi-structured interviews as data collection method. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using inductive content analysis. The study was based on a phenomenological perspective. In line with previous research, the results of the study showed that the informants thought that the collegial support had been the most important support for maintaining job satisfaction during Covid-19. The informants also thought that they needed more peace of mind than they had during Covid-19, because it took a lot of time to get acquainted with new rules and restrictions. The results showed that the informants thought that principals had a greater focus on administrative leadership than the pedagogical leadership during Covid-19. At the same time, the informants believed that principals did not have the opportunity to lead during Covid-19, but instead acted as mediators of information. In line with previous research, clear communication was highlighted as an important part of principals' leadership during Covid-19. It was also clear that according to primary school teachers, it is important that the principal is physically present in the school and visible to the teachers during Covid-19.