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This study tested a moderated mediation model of transformational leadership's effects on teacher innovative practices, with teacher commitment as mediator and trust in principal as moderator. Implementing a cross-sectional survey design and using data from 611 teachers working in 56 schools in Turkey, we employed multilevel structural equation modelling with Bayesian estimation to estimate the structural links between our variables. The results provided evidence of the indirect effects of transformational leadership on teacher innovative practices through the significant mediator role of teacher commitment. We also found evidence that trust in principal acted as a significant moderator of the indirect effect of transformational leadership on teacher innovative practice through teacher commitment. This study adds nuanced evidence to the global literature by concluding that the effect of transformational leadership on teacher commitment and innovative practice is contingent upon the extent to which teachers trust their principals. We conclude with key implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to explore the extent to which and how principals can help decrease the use of out-of-school suspension and close the racial discipline gap. This study comprised a qualitative case study of a principal in an urban school district. Data derive from in-depth interviews with current and former campus and district leaders, historical data, and documents. The principal's transformational actions, together with support from the district, helped to improve the school's culture, and decreased the use of OSS, but were not sufficient to close the racial discipline gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceiving a calling toward one's career can provide kindergarten teachers sufficient internal motivation to resist massive job burnout and obtain high-level performance and well-being. Given the important role of leadership on followers' career calling, the present study takes the multilevel approach to examine the cross-level impact of team-level transformational leadership (TFL) of principals on the individual-level career calling of kindergarten teachers. Moreover, according to the identity-capability-reward (ICR) model, the present study investigates the mediating effects of kindergarten teachers' organizational identification and leader-member exchange (LMX) from the social identity and social exchange perspectives to explain why TFL could positively predict kindergarten teachers' career calling. Data were collected from 486 teachers at 57 kindergartens in China. Applying the multilevel analysis, results showed that principals' TFL could positively predict kindergarten teachers' sense of career calling, in which teachers' organizational identification and exchange quality with principals played the full mediating effects. These findings extend previous studies and provide practical implications to enhance kindergarten teachers' career calling. Plain Language Summary: The multilevel effect of transformational leadership on kindergarten teachers' career calling Purpose: The present study takes the multilevel approach to examine the cross-level impact of team-level transformational leadership (TFL) of principals on the individual-level career calling of kindergarten teachers. Moreover, according to the identity-capability-reward (ICR) model, the present study investigates the mediating effects of kindergarten teachers' organizational identification and leader-member exchange (LMX) from the social identity and social exchange perspectives to explain why TFL could positively predict kindergarten teachers' career calling. Method: The present study collected data from 486 teachers at 57 kindergartens in China and applied the multilevel analysis. Conclusions: Principals' TFL could positively predict kindergarten teachers' sense of career calling, in which teachers' organizational identification and exchange quality with principals played the full mediating effects. Implications: These findings extend previous studies and advise that principals' leadership, their exchange quality with teachers, and teachers' organizational identification should be paid attention to while considering teachers' career calling in kindergarten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research examines the relationship between school transformational leadership and innovation radicalness in classrooms with the moderating and mediating role of psychological safety, to provide an understanding of whether and to what extent the influence of leadership on innovation radicalness in teaching might be strengthened or weakened across various levels of psychological safety. Utilizing a dataset that included 5052 teachers working in 147 schools across Kyrgyzstan, we conducted multilevel analyses to test the proposed hypotheses. We found a positive association of transformational leadership with psychological safety and innovation radicalness in classrooms at the teacher level. Moreover, transformational leadership was more strongly related to radical innovation in schools with greater psychological safety among teachers both at the teacher and school levels. We conclude that school principals should prioritize the emotional state of teachers characterized by psychological safety by acting as transformational leaders, thereby enhancing the impact of their practices on the realization of higher innovation radicalness in the pedagogical practices of teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Instructional leadership has been identified as a key responsibility of principals who achieve promising results for school improvement. This study investigated how the national context has influenced the adoption of instructional leadership as a defining role responsibility for Israeli principals. Research Methods: Participants in this qualitative study consisted of a diverse sample of 46 Israeli principals, broadly representative of the larger body of school principals in Israel. Data were collected through both interviews and focus groups. Data analysis proceeded in a four-stage process that involved condensing, coding, categorizing, and theorizing from the interview data. Findings: Findings identified three sociocultural norms that shaped principal adoption of instructional leadership in their role set: low power distance, clan culture, and incomplete identification of principals (and teachers) with their schools' academic missions. These contextual cohering forces led principals to resist new, formally defined policy expectations of their role as instructional leaders. Implications: This study's findings reinforce arguments that propose national context as an underserved theoretical lens for understanding differences in principals' practices across different societies. The findings suggest that despite increasing global acceptance of instructional leadership, its implementation in practice is inevitably shaped by the institutional policies and cultural values of different societies. Even when a "generic" model of instructional or transformational leadership is adopted by policy makers, there will be a process of mutual adaptation during implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study of high-poverty schools in Trinidad and Tobago, we (1) identified recurring patterns and generative mechanisms for successful principal leadership and (2) explored the utility of transformational, shared, and instructional leadership models. We argued that situational and country context are central to understanding school leadership and that the universality of some models might be limited. Using the lens of critical realism, we gathered evidence from a multiple case study of seven high-poverty schools. From the data, we constructed theory bridging leadership constructs of the global North with emergent local patterns and constructions. We found three meanings for successful leadership within this context, labelled as integrative, transformational and enabling, and academic-focused. The meanings attached to the in-vivo labels were consistent with the core components of shared, transformational, and instructional leadership. We extended these leadership meanings to describe specific activities and acts. Unique to this context was the data-centric focus of transformational leadership and the use of shared leadership as an early improvement strategy. Notably, however, academic-focused leadership was evident at only a few sites, possibly explaining the overall limited improvement trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In discussions about transformational leadership theory, three conceptions frequently emerge: (a) principals’ transformational leadership behaviours are more prevalent in national contexts that are restructuring-oriented; (b) principals’ transformational behaviours are more effective than transactional behaviours; and (c) principals are either transformational or transactional. These conceptions are repeatedly addressed but seldom explored in an empirical manner. Accepting conceptions as given might result in flattening scholarly discourse and depriving practice of research knowledge. The present paper aims to investigate these conceptions based on data derived from published works and from the author’s database. The results of the investigation suggest that conceptions about principals’ transformational leadership in education are unsupported by empirical exploration. Educational leadership research may be improved by periodically subjecting conceptions to empirical test, and incorporating in future works only those that show empirical support. Such exploration is necessary to maintain relevance in an applied research field such as education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to explore the mediating role of ‘absenteeism acceptance’ between different leadership styles and school ethical climate (SEC) on organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) and voluntary absence among Israeli teachers. 304 teachers were randomly selected from 304 different mainstream and special-education schools. The model was analyzed using AMOS 18.0 software. We found that ‘absenteeism acceptance’ partially mediated the relationship between transactional leadership, SEC and OCB, and also found that SEC and transactional leadership positively predict OCB. The theoretical contribution of this study is rooted in its integrative approach. While most previous studies focused on a single leadership style, this study focused on the role of ‘absenteeism acceptance’ as a mediator between ethical aspects such as: SEC; leadership styles; and teachers’ behaviors like voluntary absence and OCB. The practical contribution may include developing school principals’ training programs, focusing on transactional leadership and SEC in order to increase teachers’ OCB in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to examine whether principals’ emotional intelligence (specifically, their ability to recognize emotions in others) makes them more effective transformational leaders, measured by the reframing of teachers’ emotions. The study uses multisource data from principals and their teachers in 69 randomly sampled primary schools. Principals undertook a performance task to allow assessment of their emotion recognition ability; half the teachers’ sampled (N = 319) reported on principals’ leadership behaviors and the other half (N = 320) on teachers’ subjective perceptions of principals as promoting teachers’ reframing of negative emotions into more positive ones. Data were analyzed through multilevel structural equation modeling. Findings indicated a cross-level relationship between principals’ transformational leadership behaviors and teachers’ emotional reframing, as well as a relationship between principals’ emotion recognition ability and their transformational behaviors. Furthermore, the study revealed that principals’ emotion recognition ability has an indirect effect on teachers’ emotional reframing through principals’ transformational leadership behaviors. The results provide empirical support for the claim that transformational leadership promotes emotional transformation. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationships between principals' leadership, school climate, and teachers' sense of self-efficacy. Drawing on existing scales, this study examined six aspects of principal leadership (professional interaction, participatory decision-making, individual support, intellectual stimulation and moral perspective) and four school climate factors (staff collegiality, goal consensus, work pressure, resource adequacy, and staff freedom). The participants included 604 Indonesian teachers drawn from 27 high schools. The data were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling. The results indicated statistically significant and positive relationships between leadership style, school climate, and teacher self-efficacy. With the exception of individual support, the relationships between principal leadership and teacher self-efficacy were largely indirect, mediated through staff collegiality and goal consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The power of improvisation to promote organizational behavior and outcomes has gained recognition in the last couple of decades. The point of departure for the current study is that improvisation is likely to mediate leaders' impact on school effectiveness. Methodology: The study is based on the responses of 60 school principals and 696 teachers. Findings: The multilevel analysis provides evidence of the mediation effect apparent in the indirect effects of transformational leadership through principals' improvisation discernible in their creativity in the two school effectiveness factors: perceived productivity and perceived adaptability. Implications: Our findings suggest that creativity may be considered an efficient coping mechanism for school leaders coping with variance and heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Study Tour is an opportunity for reflection in a new context. It emphasises experiential learning and offers both group and self-directed activities, enabling participants to explore new territories, cultures and people. It is a transformative reflectivce activity. This paper learns from the case study of a transformative experience for a group of Jamaican teachers and principals crossing the borders and engaging in a UK Study Tour. The evidence illuminates how teachers and principals might cross mental borders and widen their perspectives on the practice and leadership of education through experiential activities, and the ways teachers and principals can integrate new insights gained from crossing a border with existing knowledge from their side of their border. The main purpose of this qualitative reflective case study was to investigate the impact that Study Tours can have. The findings suggest that participants experienced remarkable personal and professional growth which are likely to result in significant changes to their practice and professional identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overarching purpose of this study is to examine the prospects of school leadership for the development of intercultural education. The article focuses on the ways in which Greek-Cypriot headteachers conceptualize: diversity and intercultural education; and their school leadership roles in culturally diverse settings. To this extent, interviews were carried out with the headteachers of 20 primary schools, which presented high concentrations of immigrant students. In general, two main approaches concerning intercultural education were identified: cultural-deprivation and cultural-celebration. Headteachers, who fostered assimilation in their schools, adopted a transactional leadership style the goal of which was ‘unobstructed’ and ‘unproblematic’ operation of their schools. Conversely, headteachers, who ‘celebrated’ diversity in their schools, opted for the transformation of their school cultures by promoting immigrant parental involvement and community liaison. Nonetheless, there was a third category of headteachers, who held container concepts of diversity, pertaining to both cultural-deficit and cultural-celebration approaches. These headteachers proclaimed the transformation of their schools to accommodate diversity by creating collaborative networks in their schools. However, such suggestions seemed to be rhetorical, while in practice they seemed to seek assimilation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study that evaluates the different types of school principals in U.S. based on their perception on leadership. The study is undertaken through the use of a latent class analysis to identify the different types of school principals in the U.S. and the administration of a Staffing Survey. The results of the study show that the difference in the types of principals were defined by educational leadership.

The study explores the attitudes of a sample of school principals in a Kuwaiti local authority towards the need for transformational leadership, the use of its behaviours, whether these school leaders are ready to behave in diverse ways or whether there are barriers that prevent them from acting in such a manner. The findings of this study demonstrate that the participants agreed on the need for transformational leadership and had positive attitudes towards its behaviours. Although the participants identified some barriers to the application of this leadership style, the results indicated that the participants were generally ready to promote transformational leadership behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article reports on a research project that studied the approaches to leadership adopted by head teachers in one local authority in an area of extreme social deprivation in northern England. Using data from semi-structured interviews which was analysed using three software packages, it examines how far the heads use either transactional or transformational leadership and identifies the factors that lead heads to make leadership choices. It concludes that while heads use both approaches to leadership, they believe that transformational leadership is far more effective in bringing about change which produces successful school development. However, external pressures cause the heads to concentrate far more than they would wish on transactional leadership in spite of the espoused national policy to facilitate school improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Throughout the world, educational policy makers, practitioners, and scholars have acknowledged the importance of principal leadership in the generation and implementation of innovations. In many studies, transformational leadership has emerged as a promising approach in response to increasing demands to develop and implement innovations in schools. Although research has suggested that having access to leaders with expertise can significantly stimulate innovation, the link between transformational leadership and principals’ social network position has not yet been extensively studied. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between principals’ positions in their schools’ social networks in combination with transformational leadership and schools’ innovative climate. It was conducted among 702 teachers and 51 principals in 51 elementary schools in a large educational system in the Netherlands. Using social network analysis and multilevel analysis, the authors analyzed a quantitative questionnaire with social network questions on work-related and personal advice and Likert-type scales for transformational leadership and innovative climate. Findings indicated that transformational leadership was positively associated with schools’ innovative climate. Principals’ social network position, in terms of centrality, was also related to schools’ innovative climate. The more principals were sought for professional and personal advice, and the more closely connected they were to their teachers, the more willing teachers were to invest in change and the creation of new knowledge and practices. Moreover, work-related closeness centrality was found to mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and innovative climate. Implications of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The first 100 days of a new senior executive appointment are fraught with multi-faceted challenges that rely on specific leadership approaches for their resolution. The purpose of this article is to (1) explore which leadership issues and initiatives most present themselves in the first 100 days of such an appointment, (2) examine the extent to which each dimension of the transformational-transactional leadership model manifests itself in the first 100 days of a new senior executive appointment in response to these issues, and (3) enhance the transformational model by examining it in terms of instructional leadership and three meta-dimensions, namely mission-centred, performance-centred and culture-centred leadership in relation to the key issues. Recommendations for replication of the study in different work environments and for practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]