Coaching and developing school principals: from necessity to implementation
Subject Areas :
Farnoosh Alami
1
*
,
zahra zahedi vafa
2
,
Abasalt Khorasani
3
,
Somaye Rahimi
4
1 - shahid beheshti university
2 -
3 - shahid beheshti university
4 - shahid beheshti university
Keywords: personal-professional development, coaching, school principals, ,
Abstract :
Given the increasing importance of school principals in improving the quality of education, along with the complexities of today’s educational environments, the continuous development of principals' skills and competencies is essential. Coaching, as an effective method for personal and organizational development, can play a significant role in enhancing the performance of school principals. However, at the national level, there is a notable lack of comprehensive studies focusing on the key components of coaching in the professional development of school leaders. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the components of leadership coaching for school principals—from necessity to implementation—by outlining a structured pathway. This applied research employs a qualitative approach. Participants included 12 subject-matter experts (coaching specialists, school principals, and academic professionals in related fields), selected through purposive sampling after reaching theoretical saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis in three coding stages. The findings identified six main components in the coaching pathway: the necessity and significance of coaching for principals, organizational and legal frameworks, prerequisites for implementation, individual and professional development, outcomes and impacts, and consideration of implementation challenges. The Ministry of Education can benefit from coaching as an effective tool for leadership development by establishing regulatory frameworks and providing necessary infrastructure.
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