Abstract:

The coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) demands leaders at various levels. The Covid-19 outbreak was an unexpected outbreak, an outbreak with a large scale and extraordinary speed, resulting in a high level of uncertainty that caused disorientation, loss of control of emotions, and high emotional disturbance. The humanitarian casualties caused by Covid-19 have created concern for the community and the world of education in particular. In this situation, the people who are used as a foundation by the community are leaders (the university rector and headmaster as leaders in education). The leaders are expected to be able to make accurate decisions to overcome the problems that are happening so that the sustainability of the education process for their children is maintained. Covid-19 pandemic with its uncertainties has also made the leaders of educational institutions stuttering in responding. At first, leaders at various levels regarded the crisis as something normal, and even tended to underestimate it; including the possibility of a crisis and the impact, it can cause. They began to respond when realized the impact of the crisis. But they cannot respond in a ready state, by following a plan that has been prepared previously. Most important in dealing with the current health crisis, leaders must recognize that a major crisis has occurred. Maybe this is a difficult step, especially at the beginning of the crisis. The purpose of this study is to examine the problem and obtain a clear meaning about the principal's leadership in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The focus of this research is how the leadership of elementary school principals at Kampung Melayu 1 Banjarmasin Indonesia were dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic which includes, namely:
1) Before the Crisis, and
2) During the Crisis.

This research uses a qualitative method with the type of case study. Researchers investigate carefully, thoroughly, and carefully to a program, event, activity, and process of a group of individuals. Cases are limited by time and activity, and researchers gather complete information. Data collection techniques are interviews, observation, and documentation. Data were analyzed using stages as stated by Miles and Huberman, namely:
(a) data reduction
(b) data presentation and
(c) conclusion or verification.

Researchers explore phenomena that cannot be quantified so that they are descriptive. The underlying consideration for this type of use is that it is possible that from this case further scientific knowledge can be obtained.

The results showed that Before the Crisis, the stage was carried out by implementing the Covid-19 Prevention Literacy policy. The stages during the crisis are carried out with:
(a) Health Talk,
(b) Learning from Home Policy, and
(c) Video and Podcast Challenge.

During the crisis phase, the school principal develop a collaborative approach to leadership, evaluating, and controlling various crisis impacts to prevent future crises. Crisis management is needed so that schools can be better prepared to deal with crises and reduce their impact so that the learning process and managerial activities can continue to run productively.

Keywords:

Leadership, headmasters, Covid-19, south kalimantan, indonesia.