When Tragedy Strikes: Lessons in School Leadership

At a large suburban high school in the United States, the first home football game was taking place after missing a full season due to the pandemic. The stands were packed as the school community gathered to celebrate the return to some normalcy. Shortly after the third quarter began, a beloved coach/teacher collapsed on the sideline. Paramedics arrived within 10 minutes, CPR was administered, and 20 minutes later, he was transported to a local hospital, and within a few days, he passed away. This case captures the lived experiences of a school principal and how she was able to lead her school community through a devastating event witnessed by so many. It also highlights the challenges that school leaders face when dealing with an unexpected tragedy to include the quick decisions that must be made, the importance of timely and accurate communication, privacy considerations, and ensuring social emotional support is in place for all who have been impacted. This experience is based on a real event, however, all identifying information (names, etc.) has been changed along with some of the circumstances surrounding the event. This case provides school leaders an opportunity to apply cognitive resource theory to unexpected tragedies that many will undoubtedly face at some point in their career.