Leading from the middle in a war crisis : agentic leadership perspective

Background: The October 7^th 2023 War led to a crisis in the Israeli education system, manifested in a sharp increase in staff workload and exhaustion, alongside profound emotional distress within the community. Consequently, this situation generated immense pressure on school leaders, who were compelled to simultaneously maintain a functional educational framework and address critical socio-emotional needs.

Purpose: Although crisis leadership has been extensively studied, especially during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the unique leadership roles during wartime have remained underexplored. The present study investigates school middle leaders' perceptions of their leadership role during the war period crisis from an agentic leadership perspective.

Method: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 30 middle leaders in high schools in northern Israel, bordering Lebanon. Data collection and analysis provided a rich, in-depth understanding of middle leaders' sensemaking of their role during the war crisis. 

Findings: Data analysis revealed four central dimensions demonstrating the critical role of middle leaders during wartime: (1) innovating pedagogically; (2) empowering the school community; (3) fostering social cohesion; and (4) navigating socio-politically.

Significance: This study expands the knowledge about the role of middle leaders during a war crisis and deepens the understanding of their agency. Moreover, this study can offer valuable insights for school leaders navigating their communities through periods of extreme uncertainty and crisis.