Opportunities and Challenges to Adapt and Innovate: Research Brief

This research brief outlines the major findings from NYKids’ latest study on the effects of the pandemic on the educator workforce. The full report, “Opportunities and Challenges to Adapt and Innovate: How Educators Confronted the COVID-19 Pandemic,” was published in December, 2022 and is available on our website. The brief succinctly describes the four drivers for adaptation and innovation found in positive outlier schools that participated in the study: Empowerment and Collective Responsibility; Responsiveness and Flexible Problem Solving ; A Relationship- and Connection-Centered Orientation; and Adaptive and Innovative Systems.

Formats: Cross-Case Report

Leaders: District, School

Levels of Schooling: Elementary, High, Middle

Publication Years: 2023

Regions: Capital District, Central New York, North Country, Southern Tier, Western New York

Subpopulations: African American/Black, Economic Disadvantage, English Language Learner (ELL), Special Education (SPED)

Topics: District and School Leadership Capacity, Diversity, English Language Learners, Parent and/or Family Involvement, Professional Learning Communities, Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Special Education

Urbanicities: Rural, Suburban

Tags: adaptation, pandemic, positive outliers, research report, workforce

Published: March 13, 2023Author(s): Kristen C. Wilcox, Aaron Leo, Maria I. Khan, Jessie Tobin