A Historical Case Study of Trauma-Informed Leadership During a Natural Disaster

Abstract

This historical case study examined the trauma-informed leadership practices implemented at Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama, following the devastating EF4 tornado that struck on March 1, 2007, which resulted in the loss of eight students’ lives, a community member’s life, and significant destruction to the school campus. The study investigated how the school’s principal, Rick Rainer, navigated immediate crisis response, long-term recovery, and community healing through a trauma-informed lens. The purpose of this research was to explore what principles shaped leadership decisions in the aftermath of the disaster and to understand how historical, cultural, and institutional factors influenced the school leader’s response. Using a qualitative historical case study design, data were collected through interviews with school leaders and current members of faculty who were on campus on March 1, 2007, as well as archival records, media coverage, and related artifacts. Analysis was guided by trauma-informed frameworks and historical narrative methods. Findings revealed that the school leader at Enterprise High School prioritized safety, communication, trust, and decisive decision-making in the wake of the tragedy. Strategies employed by the school leader indicated that trauma-informed principles were embedded in navigating the immediate crisis and in supporting the recovery and rebuilding post disaster.