Organisational trauma in educational settings during wartime

This study examined organizational trauma and coping mechanisms in two educational organizations in Israel's Upper Galilee during the Iron Sword War: an evacuated formal school and a non-evacuated non-formal educational setting. Using a qualitative case-study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 leaders, including principals, teachers, counselors and parents. The findings revealed distinct responses to the crisis. In the formal school, evacuation and geographic dispersal disrupted educational and community continuity, contributing to blurred professional boundaries and weakened organizational identity. In contrast, the non-formal setting benefited from strong community cohesion, local continuity and organizational flexibility, which supported social and emotional stability despite staff burnout. In both settings, strong professional commitment and a heightened sense of mission were evident. The findings suggest that organizational trauma is context-dependent rather than event-dependent and shaped by structural and communal features. The study recommends cross-organizational learning, resilience-building mechanisms, and community-emotional training as part of emergency preparedness.