Enhancing Teacher Wellbeing and Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Critical Role of School Leaders in K-12 Schools in the UAE

The success of institutions, especially during crises, heavily relies on the well-being of their employees. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global economies, significantly impacting employees’ well-being, including teachers who faced job insecurity and the rapid transition to online teaching. This study explores the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on teachers’ well-being in 12 schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and how school leadership can enhance this well-being to foster organizational engagement. The findings reveal that the pandemic had positive and negative impacts on teachers, highlighting the critical role of leaders’ motivational language and self-determination in enhancing organizational engagement. This study contributes to existing literature by providing insights into the connection between leadership communication and employee well-being during crises, offering practical implications for educational leadership.