Managerial Competence of School Principals in Fostering Educational Innovation in Elementary Schools of Aceh Tamiang Regency

Junita Junita; Munawar Munawar; Saiful  Bahri

Authors

Junita Junita Universitas Al Muslim
Munawar Munawar Universitas Almuslim, Matang Glumpang dua, Bireun
Saiful Bahri Universitas Almuslim, Matang Glumpang dua, Bireun

Keywords:

managerial competence, school leadership, educational innovation, elementary education, qualitative study

Abstract

The rapid progression of education in the 21st century has increased the necessity for innovation in schools, especially at the primary level where fundamental skills are cultivated. School principals serve as pivotal agents of change, with administrative proficiency being a crucial factor in promoting sustainable educational innovation. This study examines the role of principals' managerial ability in fostering and executing innovation in public elementary schools in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Indonesia. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive methodology, data were gathered via in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis involving principals and educators from three public elementary institutions. The results indicate that principals' managerial competence—exemplified by systematic planning, collaborative organization, consistent execution, and ongoing supervision—substantially fosters innovation in educational practices, school administration, and organizational culture. Nonetheless, difficulties pertaining to inadequate infrastructure, digital preparedness, and inconsistent teacher proficiency persist as barriers to the sustainability of innovation. The study finds that enhancing principals' managerial competency via ongoing professional development and institutional support is crucial for promoting educational innovation, especially in regional elementary school settings.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

A?alday, B. (2025). Fostering teacher commitment through inclusive leadership: the mediating roles of teacher collaboration and teacher professionalism. Journal of Educational Administration, 63(6), 551–567. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-04-2025-0130

Atstsaury, S., Hadiyanto, & Supian. (2024). Principal’s Strategy to Improve Teachers Professional Competence. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.31538/MUNADDHOMAH.V5I1.775

Bahri, S., Munawar, & Novita, L. (2025). Pengembangan Profesionalisme Guru melalui Prilaku Inovatif dan Partisipatif Guru. Jurnal Serambi Ilmu, 26(1), 26–42. https://doi.org/10.32672/JSI.V26I1.2259

Bello, A. S. (2023). Innovative Experiences in Teaching and Learning. Overcoming Challenges in Online Learning: Perspectives from Asia and Africa, 171–179. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003342335-20/INNOVATIVE-EXPERIENCES-TEACHING-LEARNING-AISHATU-SALIHU-BELLO

Brauckmann, S., Pashiardis, P., & Ärlestig, H. (2023). Bringing context and educational leadership together: fostering the professional development of school principals. Professional Development in Education, 49(1), 4–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2020.1747105;ISSUE:ISSUE:DOI

Chen, C. C. (2022). Practice of leadership competencies by a principal: case study of a public experimental school in Taiwan. Asia Pacific Education Review 2022 25:1, 25(1), 159–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12564-022-09813-1

Daulay, B., Haidir, & Firmansyah. (2024). The influence of managerial competence and achievement motivation on the leadership effectiveness of high school principals. Jurnal Cakrawala Pendidikan, 43(2), 411–421. https://doi.org/10.21831/CP.V43I2.61912

de Jong, W. A., Lockhorst, D., de Kleijn, R. A. M., Noordegraaf, M., & van Tartwijk, J. W. F. (2020). Leadership practices in collaborative innovation: A study among Dutch school principals. Educational Management Administration and Leadership. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220962098;WEBSITE:WEBSITE:SAGE;ISSUE:ISSUE:DOI

Evans, M., Trolli, E., Pierson, A., & Tilak, S. (2023). Designing courses with sustainable virtual learning communities: a STEM teacher candidate course that extends beyond higher education. Journal of Computing in Higher Education 2023 37:1, 37(1), 225–247. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12528-023-09391-0

Hilman, F. F., & Tejawiani, I. (2025). Principal Leadership Management in Improving Graduate Quality. Journal of Innovation and Research in Primary Education, 4(4), 2186–2195. https://doi.org/10.56916/JIRPE.V4I4.2047

Lu, S. H., & Chen, C. C. (2025). Principals’ distributed leadership and the effectiveness of school innovation management: the mediating role of school organisational culture. Journal of Educational Administration, 63(2), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-04-2024-0109

Lumban Gaol, N. T. (2023). School leadership in Indonesia: A systematic literature review. Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 51(4), 831–848. https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432211010811;ISSUE:ISSUE:DOI

Magolama, A. A. (2024). The Influence of Administrative Managerial Competency and Innovative Strategies on Teaching Performance in a State University. Library of Progress-Library Science, Information Technology & Computer, 44(3), 6049. https://openurl.ebsco.com/contentitem/gcd:180917789?sid=ebsco:plink:crawler&id=ebsco:gcd:180917789

Marwan, M., Siraj, S., & Marisa, R. (2024). Model Pendidikan Berbasis Nilai Keislaman, Pancasila, dan Kearifan Lokal dalam Mendukung Kurikulum Merdeka. Indonesian Research Journal on Education, 4(4), 122–126. https://doi.org/10.31004/IRJE.V4I4.1087

Mavi, D., Tuti, G., & Özdemir, M. (2025). Instructional leadership as a catalyst for teacher professionalism: a multilevel mediation model of teacher collaboration. Journal of Educational Administration, 63(6), 536–550. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-02-2025-0055

Menzli, L. J., Smirani, L. K., Boulahia, J. A., & Hadjouni, M. (2022). Investigation of open educational resources adoption in higher education using Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory. Heliyon, 8(7), e09885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09885

Mustoip, S., Tabroni, I., Sulaiman, S., & Marliani, L. (2023). Promoting Equity and Excellence in Elementary Education: A Global Approach to School Management and Leadership. IJOBBA?: International Journal of Bunga Bangsa Cirebon, 2(2), 210-217–210 – 217. https://jurnal.uibbc.ac.id/index.php/ijobba/article/view/2574

Muttaqin, I., Tursina, N., Sudrajat, A., Yuliza, U., Novianto, N., Fahri Ramadhan, F., & Edi Kurnanto, M. (2023). The effect of academic supervision, managerial competence, and teacher empowerment on teacher performance: the mediating role of teacher commitment. F1000Research, 12, 743. https://doi.org/10.12688/F1000RESEARCH.128502.2

Nargis, S., Firmansyah, J., Manajerial, K., Pendidikan, M., & Menengah Pertama Negeri Abstrak, S. (2024). The Managerial Competence of School Principals in Improving the Quality of Secondary Education. Nidhomul Haq?: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 9(3), 542–553. https://doi.org/10.31538/NDHQ.V9I3.1

Oduro, F., & Kobeli, L. M. (2025). Distributed leadership and inclusive education for underserved groups: examining the mediating role of teacher autonomy. Journal of Educational Administration, 63(5), 411–425. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-08-2024-0287

Stanley, M. (2023). Qualitative Descriptive: A Very Good Place to Start. Qualitative Research Methodologies for Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy: Second Edition, 52–67. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003456216-4/QUALITATIVE-DESCRIPTIVE-MANDY-STANLEY

Striepe, M., & Cunningham, C. (2022). Understanding educational leadership during times of crises: a scoping review. Journal of Educational Administration, 60(2), 133–147. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-03-2021-0057

Supraptini, Y., & Syihabuddin, S. (2023). LEADERSHIP OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN ENHANCING TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE IN THE ERA OF 4.0: A LITERATURE REVIEW PERSPECTIVE. Prosiding Business Adaptability, Change Management and Technopreneur Conferences, 1(2), 470–480. https://doi.org/10.46306/BACMATECH.V1I2.42

Thien, L. M., & Hallinger, P. (2025). Linear and nonlinear dynamics between principal instructional leadership, teacher professional learning and teacher self-efficacy: a complexity theory approach. Journal of Educational Administration, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-06-2025-0248/1322659

White, R., Lowery, C., & Johnson, J. (2025). Enhancing high-quality education through systemic school leadership: a systematic review. Quality Education for All, 2(1), 227–244. https://doi.org/10.1108/QEA-09-2024-0096/FULL/PDF