Examining Distributed Leadership in Terms of Various Variables Based on Teachers' Opinions

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine the leadership distributed in the schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in terms of various variables based on teachers’ opinions. The research is designed based on a mixed approach. In the quantitative dimension, the sample group consists of 736 teachers from 27 different secondary schools in the Gaziantep Province. In the qualitative dimension, the focus group is composed of 24 participant teachers from 4 schools. Teachers’ opinions about the levels of distributed leadership practices observed at schools do not show any significant difference according to gender, level of education, duration of working at the current school, or occupational seniority variables. According to teachers, engagement in decision making is a significant predictor of distributed leadership. According to the findings obtained from the interviews, it is generally seen that in schools where the level of distributed leadership is high, mutual exchange of views, democratic management understanding, involvement of all stakeholders in the process, teamwork, leadership according to expertise, paying attention to the suggestions of the employees, decision-making by the initiative of the employees. Keywords: Leadership, Distributed leadership, Shared management, Educational administration, Decision making Special Issue of Educational Sciences DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-06-05