Qualitative study explores how principals navigate challenges in Turkey's centralized education system, indicating the need for flexible support mechanisms.
Key Points
This study aims to understand how elementary school principals lead in Türkiye's centralized education system amid structural constraints.
Interpretive phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews
In-depth interviews conducted with 17 elementary school principals in Balikesir, Türkiye
Inductive qualitative content analysis to identify themes from principals' experiences
Identified nine themes in leadership, categorized into resource challenges, human-centered challenges, and systemic challenges.
Principals employed adaptive resilience strategies, including resource recombination and relational mobilization.
Rural principals faced more severe limitations in infrastructure and staffing, impacting their leadership effectiveness.