Developing the Leadership Standards of School Principals [doi: 10.14527/kuey.2014.011]

Abstract

The aim of the study is to define the leadership standards of principals in Turkey and develop a conceptual framework for these standards. Qualitative research is used for this. In order to identify the participants, exemplification which is consisting of chaining and contradicting techniques respectively, is used. The research data is collected by the help of semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher. The obtained data is categorized as main or sub-group and for examination, descriptive and content analysis are used together. There search data is studied in accordance with education, operational and school leadership aspects. Considering there search output, the leadership standards which a principal has to have are; under the main group of instructional leadership, management of school environment, accountability and evaluation; under the main group of operational leadership, decision-making strategies, creating a school budget, developing human resources and ethical leadership and finally, under the main group of school leadership, creating a vision, cooperation with society and stakeholders, diversity management, human relations and effective communication. Research findings clearly determine the standards to be used in educating the principals who are the most effective factor of school management. As a result, it can be said that developing a principal training programme regarding Turkey’s own characteristics and conditions is a must.