School Principals' Experiences and Learning from the Covid-19 Pandemic in Norway

This exploratory study present findings from semi-structured interviews with 15 Norwegian school principals elaborating on their experiences and learning from the school closures, transition to digital education, and educational leadership in the first six months of the pandemic. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) "We took a quantum leap into the digital world" addressing how the school principals supported and experienced a rapid transformation to digital education; (2) "We tried to be close, even if we could not be" elaborating on worries regarding teachers and children with special needs; and (3) "We had to adjust" elaborating on the unpredictable and constantly changing nature of the situation. These themes are detailed and discussed in the context of research in crisis management, organizational change, role requirements, and leadership responsibilities. In closing, we discuss how the transformative experiences from the pandemic may have implications for educational leadership in future crisis situations.