A study on effective principal leadership factors in China

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hechuan Sun ◽  
Xiaodong Wang ◽  
Sailesh Sharma
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Chinese Teachers ◽  
Effective School ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Good School ◽  
Human Skills

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to find out what are the effective school principal leadership (ESPL) factors or indicators that Chinese teachers consider or expect. It explains how and why ESPL factors are important for effective school improvement (ESI). It tries to expand the domain knowledge of ESPL. Design/methodology/approach – The questionnaires consisted of eight factors and 40 indicators. The rating instrument was a five point Likert Scale (from 1 to 5). In total, 100 school teachers in Liaoning Province of mainland China were participated and surveyed. Factor analysis, t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the collected data. Findings – This study provides empirical insights about what ESPL factors that Chinese teachers considered. According to the results of t-test and one-way ANOVA, there were no significant differences between and among the respondents’ gender, areas and years of teaching experiences in rating the ESPL factors. The findings argue that the 16 extracted ESPL indicators have not only revealed the expectations of Chinese teachers toward their school principals, but also have drawn a three-dimensional-image of what a good and effective school principal should be. From the Chinese teachers’ eyes, a good school principal should not only possess good managerial skills in the aspects of time and routine work (such as self management, time management, influence, decision making and commitment) but also should possess good emotional intelligence, human skills, more attentiveness and consideration toward the needs of their followers (such as comfort, communication skills and empathy, etc.). Practical implications – This study provides implications for all school stakeholders, particularly for school principals, school leaders and educational managers both in and outside of schools. A good school principal should possess good ESPL characters/factors. If not, at least he/she should be aware of the ESPL characters/factors and actively adopt or adapt them. Thus the ESPL factors or indicators extracted from this study can be served as a mirror and a useful knowledge. Originality/value – This study belongs to very few of this kind of researches carried out in mainland China. Its findings have made some contributions to the ESPL research in mainland China, to the research of school leadership and ESI.

Review of research on school principal leadership in mainland China, 1998-2013

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Walker ◽  
Haiyan Qian
Keyword(s):  
Principal Leadership ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
School Principal ◽  
International Literature ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese School ◽  
School Principalship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review English-language publications about school principalship in China published between 1998 and 2013 and to present an overview of the authorship, topics, methodologies and key findings of these publications. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology includes an exhaustive review of journal articles and book chapters about Chinese school principalship published in the English language. In total, 39 articles and 17 book chapters are identified for the 1998-2013 period. Qualitative analysis is conducted to determine the basic patterns of authorship, topics, methods and key findings. The changes or continuities in these patterns during the study period are also discerned. Findings – The paper identifies several continuous and discontinuous patterns in each of the review categories and provides a better understanding of on-going research into the practice of school principalship in China. The results also suggest areas that require deeper exploration. Originality/value – This paper explores the landscape of school principalship in China as reflected in the international literature and indicates the ways that this landscape has changed or remained the same over the years. As such, the paper contributes to the thin knowledge base concerning school principalship in China and sheds light on the enduring local-global tension in the evolution of education systems.

scholarly journals Effective School Performance Stages at Public Senior High Schools in Indonesia

AL-TA LIM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-113
Author(s):  
Ristapawa Indra ◽  
Martin Kustati
Keyword(s):  
High Schools ◽  
Effective Schools ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Simple Linear Regression ◽  
Effective School ◽  
Very High

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the stages of effective school performance based on 11 characteristics of effective schools as well as to evaluate the level of correlation between individual characteristics of effective schools and the contribution of the school principal leadership to an effective school. 60 school principals and 105 teachers in 16 schools became sample of the research. The number of teachers took as many as 7 to 10 people for each school. The quantitative data were obtained through a set of instruments on 11 characteristics of effective schools. The data were then analyzed descriptively using frequency, min score, percentage, standard deviation, and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation, simple linear regression). Findings showed the stages of effective school performance of Public Senior High Schools in Padang as perceived by the principals and teachers were very high. There was a significant correlation between the professional principal leadership with the realization of 11 characteristics of effective schools. The professional principal leadership contributed as much as 58.5% to the realization of 11 characteristics of effective schools in Public Senior High Schools in Padang while the other percentage was contributed by other variabels not included in this study. The principal leadership was an important factor for the realization of 11 characteristics of effective schools in Public Senior High Schools in Padang.

(In)effective leadership? Exploring the interplay of challenges, goals and measures in the context of school improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Böse ◽  
Stefan Brauckmann-Sajkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
School Effectiveness ◽  
School Quality ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Context ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis study aims to explore the extent to which schools principals serving disadvantaged communities in Germany are able to set appropriate goals and choose suitable measures for improving their schools according to the specific challenges they face. The authors determine whether principals are able to identify their schools' challenges or whether they merely follow “universal recipes” of the school effectiveness research paradigm regardless of their particular school context. This effectiveness-driven accountability approach requires an in-depth evaluation of the school and its stakeholders and might lead to a new attitude toward failure that sees it as an essential part of developing effective school improvement plans.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted descriptive and correlative analyses as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using longitudinal data of 164 school principals. Through cross-sectional analyses, the authors investigated the connection among challenges, goals and measures and how they correlated with (self-reported) improvements.FindingsFrom a leadership perspective, priorities for school improvement should be aligned with the school-specific challenges they identify and the goals they set to address them.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which legislation concerning individual school quality development programs can translate into feasible and effective actions is unclear. Caution should be taken when interpreting the findings of this study, as they reflect school principals' self-selected evaluation measures and therefore might be biased.Practical implicationsIn future research, emphasis should be placed on school management processes, in particular, the development of strategic decision-making, structuring of target perspectives and derivation of steps in school improvement and instructional development. The authors recommend the government offer school principals appropriate and adequate training and support services to prevent them from overburdening their staff.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a deeper understanding of processes concerning strategic leadership, as opposed to operative management, of schools by revealing context-sensitive considerations.

Accountability in the financial management practices of school principals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agrippa Madoda Dwangu ◽  
Vimbi Petrus Mahlangu
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms employed in financial management practices of school principals in the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education. The strengths and weaknesses of the systems and mechanisms of the processes to hold school principals accountable are explored in detail in this study. The argument that this article seeks to advance is that accountability of the school principal to the school governing body (SGB) does not yield the best results in terms of efficiency. It creates a loose arrangement in terms of which the school principal takes part in financial mismanagement in schools.Design/methodology/approachData collection was made through semi-structured interviews whose purpose was to draw experiences from SGBs, particularly the finance committees who are in fact the sub-committees of the SGBs; as well as literature review. The finance committee is made up of the chairperson of the SGB, the secretary of the SGB, the treasurer of the SGB, and the financial officer who is a clerk responsible for the keeping and the management of financial records of the school. The process started with semi-structured interviews, then transcribing, coding, developing themes, making meaning of the themes and subsequently developing a principle.FindingsMechanisms employed by schools and the Department of Education to hold principals accountable for their financial management practices fail to make them fully accountable and effectively face the consequences of acts on their part that are illegal and unlawful. The mechanisms need a great deal of overhauling. The argument that this article seeks to advance is that this account of the school principal to the SGB does not yield the best results in terms of efficiency. It creates a loose arrangement in terms of which the school principal easily gets away with a crime when financial mismanagement occurs in the school.Research limitations/implicationsParticipants could possibly not be comfortable and willing, to tell the truth as it is. Participants might have the fear that telling the truth could land them in trouble with the law. Whilst participants were assured by the researchers of their anonymity and the confidentiality of the information given by them, there was no guarantee that the fear of being exposed would subdue completely. There was also a possibility that some participants would not be willing to say the truth as it is for fear of being victimised by other participants for exposing the status quo in their schools.Practical implicationsThe findings and recommendations from this study may be used by the Department of Basic Education as a source of information for policymakers and stakeholders to understand the effectiveness of their mechanisms to ensure the accountability of school principals on issues of financial management. On the basis of this study, policymakers will then be able to revisit their policies for the purpose of strengthening them. The principal is therefore responsible for the day-to-day administration and management of school funds because of this mandatory delegation. However, when things go wrong, it is the SGB that is held liable.Social implicationsSchool principals hold dual accountability in terms of which they are accountable to the employer only in so far as their professional responsibilities are concerned on financial management in the first instance. They are by no means accounting officers in schools. In the second instance, they are fully accountable to the SGB for issues relating to financial management. Section 16A of SASA lists the functions and responsibilities for which the principal as an employee of the Department of Basic Education, and in his official capacity as contemplated in Sections 23(1) and 24(1) (j) of the same Act, is accountable to the head of department (HOD).Originality/valueThe study provides a theoretical and empirical contribution to the existing literature on the effectiveness of the mechanisms employed to ensure the accountability of school principals in their financial management practices in schools. It offers practical recommendations putting in place mechanisms that effectively hold school principals wholly accountable for their financial management practices in schools. Most of the time, it is easy for the principal to get away with a crime even in instances where he or she is called upon to account for alleged financial mismanagement.

scholarly journals Profesionalisme Kepala Sekolah dalam Menciptakan Iklim Kondusif di Sekolah

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achmad Krisbiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Methods ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Principal ◽  
School Development ◽  
Managerial Ability ◽  
Good School ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Angle Of View ◽  
Conducive Environment

The school principal sued the school is able to make changes not only in teaching methods and curriculum, but also management and organization. The school principal is required to create a conducive environment and planned changes in schools as outlined in the School Development Plan (RPS), implementing, controlling, monitoring, and evaluate them effectively and efficiently. The principal duties and position is not light, because the position and role of school principals will greatly affect (determine) the progress of the school. Therefore, a school principal should be able to perform activities related to managerial ability to effectively utilize personnel. The school principal is obliged to move the personnel to willingly and earnestly perform their duties through administrative include planning, directing, coordination and supervision. Seeing the principal’s duties and functions of such complexity, then the role of principals that can be categorized into different types of roles depending on the angle of view that ultimately can create a climate, a good school.

US principals’ sensemaking of the future roles and responsibilities of school principals

2020 ◽  
pp. 174114321989607
Author(s):  
David B. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
School Improvement ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Public School Principals ◽  
Future Role ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
The Future

School principals are fundamentally important to school improvement. Due in part to this importance, the roles and responsibilities of school principals are constantly evolving. To explore leader sensemaking about this phenomenon I conducted 30 interviews with 10 public school principals in the US state of New Jersey during the 2018–2019 school year. Specifically, in this study I asked: (a) What are current public school principals’ predictions of the future role of school principals? and (b) In what way(s) do these predictions shape principals’ thinking about remaining in the profession? The findings of this work indicate: (a) principals believe the future of the school principal will focus heavily on safety and security; (b) principals believe the future of the role will include an increased emphasis on supporting student and teacher emotion and mental health; and (c) principals believe their future role as a school leader will evolve in how they interact with parents/guardians. Finally, an analysis of data shows in some cases how principals make sense of the future of the profession shapes their thinking about remaining in or exiting the role of school principal. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Promoting professional development in new school principals

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 28-30
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Real Life ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Good Time ◽  
Head Teachers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Principal ◽  
The Usa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of coaching for newly appointed school principals and head teachers as they establish themselves in their new role. Design/methodology/approach – To examine the use of coaching for newly appointed school principals and head teachers as they establish themselves in their new role. Findings – Teachers in a number of countries receive coaching to improve their effectiveness. It is also now being offered to newly appointed school administrators – the school principal in the USA, the head teacher elsewhere – to help them settle into their new role. Surprisingly, there has been little research assessing the effectiveness of executive coaches or find out what benefits – if any – result from coaching. It seems, then, to be a good time to look at new principal coaching and ask what does or doesn't work. And who better to ask than the coaches themselves. Practical implications – Distinguishes between the coaching needs of newly appointed teachers and those of school administrators. Suggests a requirement for more process-oriented training for new principal coaches. Social implications – Highlights the emphasis that these coaches place on process rather than content and discusses their use of real-life, real-time issues to promote reflective enquiry and professional development. Originality/value – Considers coaching from the perspective of the coach. Demonstrates how coaching can support recently appointed school principals as they adapt to their new work environment and develop the skills needed to take on complex tasks.

“School banding”

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 686-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphnee Hui Lin Lee ◽  
Chi Shing Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
School Context ◽  
Effective School ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Attributes ◽  
School Based ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
School Based Management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how principals’ leadership approaches to teacher professional development arise from school banding and may impact upon teacher professional capital and student achievement. Design/methodology/approach The case study is situated within the context of school-based management, comprising reflective accounts of nine school principals selected by stratified sampling from a sample of 56 Hong Kong schools to represent Bands One, Two, and Three schools. The reflective accounts were triangulated with observations of teachers and analysis of school websites. Findings First, under school-based management, principals remain obliged to recognize the power of state-defined examinations in determining the schools’ future priorities. Second, the exercise of school autonomy in response to this obligation varies, depending upon the competitive advantage schools have in the school banding system. Ideally, effective school-based management is dependent upon the principal’s capacity to facilitate good instructional practices. However, principals need to adjust their leadership practices to school contextual demands. Third, adaptations to contexts result in the varied developments of teacher capacities in schools, corresponding with the types of principal leadership adopted. Originality/value While statistical studies have identified attributes of exemplary principal leadership, few studies have examined the qualitative reasons for the exemplification of these attributes, and the influence of the school context in shaping these attributes. Departing from assumptions that leadership attributes are intrinsic to individuals, this paper considers how principals contextualize leadership in teacher professional development to the schools’ student academic achievement.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF PRINCIPAL'S LEADERSHIP ON THE PERFORMANCE OF TEACHERS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE LESSONS IN SMPN PELALAWAN REGENCY

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
M. Yogi Riyantama Isjoni ◽  
Indra Primahardani ◽  
Asyrul Fikri
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Level Data

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of principal's leadership on social science teachers’ performance. The research was conducted in Pelalawan Regency taking Social Science teachers in Pelalawan Regency as the research subjects. The method used was a survey with quantitative techniques. The research sample was 150 Pelalawan Regency teachers selected using random sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data was a set of questionnaires used to quantify the school principal leadership level. Data of teachers’ performance were gathered from the teachers’ competency test (UKG) data. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant and positive influence of the principal's leadership on the performance of social science teachers at SMPN Pelalawan. The results of this study are expected to be useful for the improvement of the performance of school principals and social science teachers in Pelalawan Regency.

scholarly journals Including migrant students in the primary school: perspectives of Italian principals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Biasutti ◽  
Eleonora Concina
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Migrant Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Primary School Principals

PurposeThe aim of this article is to examine the perspectives, experiences, roles and values of Italian primary school principals regarding the inclusion of migrant children.Design/methodology/approachThe method of the study is qualitative and consists of a semi-structured interview, which was carried out with 17 primary school principals and examined using content analysis.FindingsThe following six categories emerged: (1) school organisation and services, (2) projects and activities for inclusion, (3) teaching methods and strategies, (4) assessment, (5) networking and (6) challenges. The findings highlighted the complexity of the principals' role; they have to take on several tasks to foster a positive school experience for migrant students. A student-centred approach was considered relevant for intercultural education to promote inclusion and well-being. Curriculum activities were designed according to student needs.Research limitations/implicationsThe number of participants was limited, and they all worked in a small area of northeast Italy. Future research should examine the perspective of other school stakeholders such as teacher coordinators, the Commission for School Inclusion, teachers and tutors.Practical implicationsThe findings could be used as a framework for defining a model of the organisation of the school useful for discussing the relevance of the activities and for comparing schools in different contexts. The development of reflective practice to analyse the activities inside the schools could be considered.Social implicationsStakeholders could consider the findings before making decisions and developing policy actions countrywide.Originality/valueThe key factors included the awareness of the school principal role in managing the school and of the importance of connecting their school with the local community and external agencies.

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