Public School Leaders Research Articles

Emotional Intelligence Dimensions and Professional Standards: Trajectories for Building Capacities for School Improvement

ABSTRACT School leaders worldwide face challenges in dealing with equity, inclusion, and coexistence because of various global forces. This quantitative study investigated the relationships between emotional intelligence dimensions (EIDs) and professional performance standards (PPS) of Abu Dhabi public school leaders dealing with the changing times of neoliberalism. The study used questionnaires and a scoring guide to measure the emotional intelligence and leadership attributes of 123 school leaders, who were the participants. A multi-structural level analysis tracked the correlation and association between school leaders’ EIDs and PPS. The results indicated areas of EIDs requiring development to facilitate school improvement.

Recruitment and selection of school leaders in Saudi Arabia

The success of schools depends on effective recruitment and selection of school leaders. The present study sought to understand the processes of recruiting and selecting public school leaders in Saudi Arabia from their perspectives. Interview data were collected from 39 high school leaders in the Eastern province in Saudi Arabia. The results of the study indicated that the school leadership recruitment and selection processes in Saudi Arabia consist of few linear steps where the ministry engages in an effort to attract candidates from internal resources, followed by initial screening, and a formal interview to select the candidate from the pool. The analysis also revealed several challenges involved in the recruitment and selection processes of prospective candidates. Based on the findings of this study, schools are currently struggling to recruit qualified candidates that commensurate the mission and the needs of our schools. Therefore, we recommend providing appropriate budget, resources, and training to human resource staff to effectively communicate with prospective candidates, identify the type of candidates and design recruitment and selection strategy accordingly.
 
 Keywords: Recruitment, selection, school leaders, human resources, Saudi Arabia.

Supporting the Policy Implementation Performance of Public Primary School Leaders in Malaysia: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of Public Leadership

Policy implementation requires the act of translating the goals and objectives of policy into actions. Policy implementation is a difficult process because how policy actors and implementers act on the policy on a large scale may decide whether it succeeds or fails. There is a growing recognition that policies do not succeed or fail on their own, but instead due to a lack of leadership qualities in policy implementation. The study aims to develop and validate the instrument for measuring the public leadership construct of school leaders in Malaysia. The instrument was adapted from the previous study and modified to suit the current study. The study also added ten new items to complement the original instrument of public leadership initiated by Tummers and Knies (2016). The target population is school leaders in the national-type primary schools in Malaysia. A simple random sampling method was utilized to select a random sample of 381 participants from the sampling frame of eligible school leaders in the country. Content validity and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on the instrument before the confirmatory factor analysis. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) procedure confirmed the existence of four sub-constructs of the public leadership construct that are accountability leadership, rule-following/lawfulness leadership, political loyal leadership, and network governance leadership. The CFA process has deleted four items due to poor factor loading (less than 0.6). The fitness indexes for all fit categories have achieved the required level of a model fit. Meanwhile, the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR), which reflect the convergent validity and construct reliability, respectively, have also achieved the required level of a model fit. Hence, the revised instrument for measuring the public leadership construct of school leaders in Malaysia is valid and reliable for use to determine the policy implementation performance of the public primary school leaders in Malaysia.

Zero Tolerance Policies are Anti-Black: Protecting Racially Profiled Students from Educational Injustice

When students are tracked from their schools into the juvenile and adult criminal justice system, primarily because of zero-tolerance policies, they fall victim to a practice that is now widely known as the school-to-prison pipeline. President Obama urged educators to abandon severe disciplinary policies that criminalize students for offenses that could be handled without law enforcement (Du, 2015). A review of the literature indicates a disproportionate number of Black students are at a greater risk of being adversely impacted by such policies thus increasing their chances of having a negative educational experience. Research shows that Black students receive higher rates of suspension, harsher discipline, and more special education referrals than do their similarly situated white counterparts. Policies that adopt positions of zero tolerance to justify colorblindness work against the academic achievement and persistence of Black students. Anti-Blackness Theory and Critical Race Theory are used to establish a connection between the Black K-12 student experience and the application of zero-tolerance disciplinary policies. To supplement this examination of how school disciplinary polices operate in school settings, I draw from a recent qualitative study of public-school leaders and teachers in the New York City metropolitan area.

Ethical Leadership Practices and Trust Among Public School Leaders in Malaysia

Abstract: Integrating values in managing a school is crucial to balance the role of school leaders as leaders and managers under one roof. This study highlights the practice of ethical leadership (branch of value-based leadership) based on seven dimensions. Using a mixed method (QUAN-qual) approach, this study i) identifies the level of principal’s ethical leadership practices and trust in leader as perceived by primary and secondary school teachers of Malaysia, ii) explores the relationship between both variables and classifies accordingly the subconstructs of ethical leadership practices that significantly contribute to developing trust in their leaders, iii) ascertain the understanding and practices of ethical leadership style among the principals as perceived by the principals themselves. The quantitative data were collected via Ethical Leadership at Workplace (ELW) and Trust in Leader (TL) questionnaire. A total of 438 public school teachers nationwide responded to the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical method. The findings show that principals throughout the country practiced high ethical leadership. The level of teacher's trust in principals was also high. The inference analysis found very strong significant relationship between ethical leadership and teachers' trust on their principals. A semi-structured interview with three school principals was conducted to collect the qualitative data revealed that the Malaysian principals lacked the understanding of ethical leadership style, nevertheless practiced several dimensions of ethical leadership in their school administration. The study suggests ethical leadership to be integrated into current school leadership practices to further understand its impact.
 Keywords: Ethical leadership, School Leadership, Trust in Leader, Value-based Leadership

Degree of practicing authentic leadership among public school leaders from the teachers’ viewpoint

This study aimed to determine the degree of practicing authentic leadership among public-school leaders from teachers’ viewpoint while also revealing whether statistically significant differences exist between the respondents’ means of the degree of authentic leadership practice due to number of years of service, specialization, and/or scholastic stage. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted. The study population consisted of teachers. A stratified random sample of 351 female teachers was chosen. The questionnaire used consisted of four main axes that included the four authentic leadership elements: self-awareness, relational transparency, the internalized moral perspective, and balanced processing. The results indicated a high degree of the practice of the four dimensions of authentic leadership among the leaders as well as the presence of statistically significant differences between teachers’ mean responses about the degree of authentic leadership practice among the leaders of public-schools due to the number of years of service in favor of the teachers whose years of service ranged between 5 and 10 years as well as academic level in favor of intermediate school teachers. The researchers also offer several recommendations.
 
 Keywords: Authentic leadership; school principals; practice leadership;

Women’s leadership in education: A perspective from Chilean school leaders

This paper focuses on the experiences of six Chilean female headteachers. It addresses their career progress, and the facilitators and barriers, as well as the challenges they encountered in accessing and enacting school leadership. The six participants were drawn from all three of Chile’s school types – public, semi-private and private – in what is a differentiated system. The findings demonstrate both differences and similarities in participants’ experiences, across all three school sectors. A major difference relates to the additional barriers faced by public sector school leaders, compared with participants in the private and semi-private schools.

The Degree to which the Leaders of Public Schools in Riyadh City Practice Toxic Leadership and its Relationship to the Level of Psychological Well-being of Teachers from their Perspectives: درجة ممارسة قادة المدارس الحكومية بمدينة الرياض للقيادة السامة وعلاقتها بمستوى الرفاه النفسي للمعلمين من وجهة نظرهم

This study aimed to reveal the degree of public-school leaders 'practice in Riyadh city of toxic leadership, the level of psychological well-being and the relationship of the two variables with each other from the teachers' point of view in those schools. The researchers used the descriptive survey approach, a questionnaire designed by researchers consisting of (45) items distributed on two axes, and it was applied to a random sample of (252) teachers. The results showed that the degree of school leaders ’practice of toxic leadership obtained an overall average of (1.60 out of 5). That is, with a (low) rating, and that the level of psychological well-being obtained an overall average of (3.40 out of 5), that is, a (high) rating. It also revealed the existence of a statistically significant positive relationship between toxic leadership and psychological well-being, reaching 0.15 and indicating a very weak relationship, With no statistically significant differences in the strength of the correlational relationship due to the effect of gender, experience, or educational stage. Based on the results, the researchers presented a set of recommendations and proposals to prevent toxic leadership and maintain a high level of psychological well-being among teachers.

Black Male School Leaders: Protectors and Defenders of Children, Community, Culture, and Village

This study explored the ways in which the race-gendered identities and lived experiences of Black male K-12 public and independent school leaders inform their leadership in support of students, community, and village. The study draws from critical theories and perspectives, including a framework of Black Masculine Caring (BMC), critical race theory, culturally relevant and responsive leadership, leadership for social justice, and their relationship to and with a theory of Black male school leadership. The qualitative study used survey, phenomenological, and visual elicitation methods to examine the personal and professional experiences, philosophies, and praxis of 14 Black male school leaders. Study findings are presented as an intergenerational dialog with participants, based on their years of leadership experience. These leaders exhibit a liberatory care-based approach to leadership as an expression of social justice advocacy, civil rights activism, community and evidenced action-orientated commitment to a dismantling of structured and systemic forms of racism, anti-Black racism entrenched segregation, and other inequities that discriminate and disproportionately marginalize significant numbers of students and their communities. As captured through the narratives shared, this is evidenced through greater, and positively encouraged, levels of parental and other community member involvement in school activities, as a core aspect of the leadership and decision-making processes. The research expands understanding of paradigms of critical race leadership and disrupts the normative educational leadership that ill-serve significant sections of our student populations and communities.

واقع ممارسة قائدات مدارس التعلیم العام بمدینة أبها الحضریة لأبعاد المرونة التنظیمیة وآلیات تطویره. The Status Quo of the Female Public-School Leaders in the Urban City of Abha Practice of the Dimensions of Organizational Flexibility and the Development Mechanisms

هدف البحث معرفة واقع ممارسة قائدات مدارس التعليم العام بمدينة أبها الحضرية لأبعاد المرونة التنظيمية ووضع عدد من الآليات التي تسهم في تطويرها، وأقتصر البحث على قائدات ومشرفات ومعلمات مدارس التعليم العام بمدينة أبها الحضرية لأبعاد المرونة التنظيمية (المرونة الاستراتيجية، والمرونة التشغيلية، والمرونة التکتيکية)، واعتمد البحث على المنهج الوصفي، وتکونت عينة البحث من قادة ومشرفات ومعلمات بمدارس التعليم العام بمدينة أبها الحضرية، وبلغت (375) مفردة، وأسفر البحث عن أن ممارسة قائدات مدارس التعليم العام بمدينة أبها الحضرية لأبعاد المرونة التنظيمية (المرونة الاستراتيجية، والمرونة التشغيلية، والمرونة التکتيکية)، جاءت بدرجة متوسطة؛ وعدم وجود فروق بين استجابات أفراد عينة البحث حول واقع ممارسة قائدات مدارس التعليم العام بمدينة أبها الحضرية لأبعاد (المرونة الاستراتيجية، والمرونة التشغيلية، والمرونة التکتيکية) تعزي لمتغيرات الوظيفة الحالية والمرحلة التعليمية، وتوصل البحث إلى وضع عدد من الآليات التي تسهم في تطوير تلک الممارسات ومنها: عقد الدورات التدريبية وورش العمل المتخصصة للتعريف بالمرونة التنظيمية وأبعادها المختلفة، ووضع المدرسة بدائل استراتيجية مناسبة لمقابلة التغيرات التي تحدث في البيئة (الداخلية أو الخارجية) والتکيف معها؛ وأوصى البحث بتـأهيل قائدات المدارس في مجال التفکير الابداعي، وعقد دورات تدريبية للقائدات لتنمية مهاراتهن وقدراتهن في مجال تطبيق المرونة التنظيمية وأبعادها بالمدرسة. The aim of the present research was to identify the degree to which the leaders of public education schools in The Urban City of Abha are practicing the dimensions of organizational flexibility and the development of a number of mechanisms that contribute to their development. The research was delimited to the leaders, supervisors and teachers of public education schools in AbhaUrbanCity for the dimensions of organizational flexibility (strategic flexibility, flexibility of operation. The research made use of the descriptive method, and the sample consisted of leaders, supervisors and teachers in public education schools in the urban city of Abha totaling (375). The results of the research revealed that the practice of female leaders of public education schools in the Urban City of Abha of the dimensions of Organizational flexibility (strategic flexibility, operational flexibility, tactical flexibility) was medium; besides the absence of the differences between the responses of the research sample members to the degree to which the female leaders of public education schools in Abha urban city practice the dimensions (strategic flexibility, operational flexibility, tactical flexibility) to enhance the current functionality and educational phase variables. The research has also developed a number of mechanisms that contribute to the development of these practices, including training courses and specialized workshops to identify the organizational flexibility and their different dimensions, and the development of strategic alternatives to the environment (in order to meet the changes in the environment) to meet the needs of the organization. The research recommended qualifying the female school leaders in the field of creative thinking, and developing training courses for female leaders to develop their skills and abilities in applying organizational flexibility and their dimensions at school.

Deal or No Deal? The Effects of Deregulation on Public School Leaders’ Support for Private School Choice in California

Public school leaders might be more likely to support private school voucher programs if they are enacted alongside public school deregulations. We use a survey experiment to examine the effects of public school deregulations on actual public school leaders’ support for a hypothetical private school voucher program in California. We do not find evidence to suggest that public school deregulations affect public school leaders’ support for private school vouchers overall. However, we unexpectedly find that deregulations related to teacher certification and administration of standardized tests further decrease support for private school choice for leaders of large public schools. This unexpected result may be explained by expected adjustment costs or regulatory capture.

Practice-Driven Data: Lessons from Chicago's Approach to Research, Data, and Practice in Education

Background/Context There is a body of evolving research on how educators use data for improvement, with many examples in the literature about how educators learn to use a routine of data-driven cycles of inquiry to make smart improvements to their practice. This article is not an alternative structure for engaging in cycles of inquiry, but rather a series of critical considerations for school leaders about how, why, and with what supports they can best organize their schools to use data for improvement. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study The study addresses the research question, “What are the conditions necessary for school leaders to use data to improve student outcomes?” To demonstrate our concept of practice-driven data, we use Chicago Public Schools as a case study of school district that worked and continues to work with its research and practice partners to implement a process using data-based indicators with the goal of improving practice and ultimately student outcomes. Research Design In this article, as authors we are participant observers of the work of bringing data to schools across various projects and many years. We write this article as leaders that are based in the University of Chicago and work with Chicago Public Schools, but are independent of the district. We rely on notes from our daily practices, observations from our experiences, and documents from the practices supporting Chicago Public School leaders. Conclusions/Recommendations We build the article around five lessons that form an approach to the use of practice-driven data: First, it is important to build capacity to facilitate hard conversations that use data to spur collective action, which requires an emphasis on trust, collaboration, and culture. Second, the preponderance of available data and the scarce resource of time require that educators and leaders prioritize research-based indicators that matter most for student success. Third, educators at all levels of the school system can use relevant research evidence to make meaning of the data to guide their practice, and to develop shared ownership over the implications of the research on improving student outcomes. Fourth, using data effectively to guide practice requires that educators and leaders use the right data at the right time of the school year. Finally, there is no more important use of data in public schools than as a tool to identify and stop inequities that continue to leave the most vulnerable students further and further behind.

QUALITATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE PRACTICE OF INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Educational or school outcomes are strongly associated with the quality and/or relevance of leadership style used by principals and its possible influence on the level of teacher job satisfaction. To attain the goals of the school, the principal needs to engage in an effective leadership style to inspire and encourage teachers. The aim of this study is to investigate the public school leadership practice in the theoretical view of instructional leadership and transformational leadership styles. Both theories have been found to encompass leadership practices that enhance teacher job satisfaction and student achievement. Qualitative case study research design was used to investigate the issue. The study participants were selected purposefully from the public school principals and teachers. In this research 34 participants were selected, 24 teaches and 10 principals from the 65 schools. The research participants were interviewed using the semi-structure interview quastions. The data analysis was done concurrently with the interview sessions were takes place. ATLASti version8 was used to organized and generate the codes and themes of the study. Based on the themes the study results were discussed. Addis Ababa public school principals were not fully implemented the instructional leadership and transformational leadership behaviors. The school leadership and management practice was interfered by politicians to execute ruling party interest in the school. Principals were not assigned by their profession and performance, afflation to the ruling party was mandatory to be the school principal. As the result of this teachers were not satisfied and motivated. Teaching and learning was not effectively supported by the school leaders. Thus, study participants perceived that the school leadership was traditional and not practice effective school leadership style like instructional and transformational leaderships style. The study participants stated that transformational leadership behaviour and instructional leadership style have a positive impact on teacher job satisfaction, work commitment and better school performance. In this study, as suggested by the teachers, transformational leadership is a favourable leadership style in order for schools to become effective in their activities. They also agreed that such leadership behaviour is strongly related to improving student achievement.

Linking emotional intelligence to professional leadership performance standards

ABSTRACT This study traced Abu Dhabi public school leaders’ emotional intelligence within the context of professional standards. The study aimed at exploring the emotional intelligence exhibited by school leaders within the anticipated professional standards featured in the areas of leading the community, leading the people, and leading the organization. This exploratory case study uncovered emotional intelligence attributes and capabilities that school leaders demonstrate within their praxis. The study employed qualitative research tools for data collection to pinpoint emotional intelligence attributes, and skills in alignment with the professional standards set by the Abu Dhabi Education and Knowledge Department (ADEK). Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants reflecting categories of school leaders that represented various school types. Study findings addressed direct and indirect mediators of emotional intelligence that could impact the improvement of school leaders’ overall performance in addition to validating school leaders’ emotional intelligence attributes relating to performing professional standards that galvanize school changes. Further, this paper addressed challenges school leaders face in terms of their roles and responsibilities and provided recommendations for developing emotional intelligence that contextualize professional performance standards. The authors also suggest a tangible path for further studies and leadership action research to enhance school leaders’ capacity building.

Measuring school leaders' adaptability in the UAE: development of a scale to measure leadership adaptability

PurposeThis paper presents a quantitative measurement instrument for Leadership Adaptability.Design/methodology/approachQualitative themes are examined, grouped and developed into 13 quantitative statements of Leadership Adaptability. A robust analysis is conducted to understand the relationships and underlying dimensions in the statements. Three types of dimension reduction techniques are employed: principal components analysis and two types of exploratory factor analysis. The instrument is tested in the form of a survey for the first time with public and private school leaders in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (n = 167).FindingsThe quantitative Leadership Adaptability scale is validated by applying robust tests of dimensionality, validity and reliability. The three dimension reduction tests identified that the 13 statements are measuring a single dimension of Leadership Adaptability, and should therefore be treated as a single homogeneous scale. Reliability analyses further confirmed the results of the dimension reduction results, with a high score for Cronbach's alpha of 0.953, classified as an “excellent” level of reliability. Discriminant validity tests of the 13 statements, analysed alongside the 20-item Cultural Intelligence Scale, further confirmed the statements as being a distinct scale. Applying the instrument to Abu Dhabi school leaders showed they have high levels of adaptability.Originality/valueThis paper presents the first known quantitative measurement instrument for understanding Leadership Adaptability. This instrument addresses a need by developing a quantitative tool for researchers studying Leadership Adaptability, and it can be used to facilitate further exploration of this topic.

Factors influencing instructional leadership capacity in Baku, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has introduced significant reforms to improve school leadership in public schools. Responsibilities were redefined to prioritize teacher supervision and engagement with school governance structures to ensure school improvement and accountability measures. The purpose of this study was to provide insight into contextual factors predicting the extent of principals’ sense of self-efficacy, or capacity, for instructional leadership in public schools in the capital city of Baku. Findings suggest that any increment in outcome expectancy for teacher supervision, mentorship, and training is likely to increase Baku principals’ intentions to perform those instructional leadership practices. However, time on instructional leadership is the key contextual factor influencing outcome expectancy. Findings also point to the importance of time spent on stakeholder engagement and school management tasks such as providing classroom resources, which are interrelated to instructional leadership tasks. Policy reforms for instructional leadership in Azerbaijan need to consider the interrelations between school leadership functions.

Policy Implementation Performance of Primary School Leaders in Malaysia: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

The aim of this study is to develop a scale for assessing the policy implementation performance of public primary school leaders in Malaysia. The “Implementation Leadership Scale (ILS)” by Aarons, Ehrhart and Farahnak (2014) and part of the “Teacher’s Competency Scale” by Ghafar (2015) were adapted and customised to suit the context of the study in measuring school leaders' policy implementation performance. The respondents were 228 senior primary school leaders who included headmasters and senior teacher assistants in three categories: academic, student affairs, and co-curriculum. Clustered random sampling was used to select the respondents. Results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed six underlying components of policy implementation performance with 38 indicators, the first four of which are proactive, knowledgeable, supportive, and perseverance implementation leadership. The last two components are ability to perform and standard of performance. Evidently, the six components explained 65.1% of the total variance. The reliability of the policy implementation performance construct was 0.95, while that of other constructs ranges from 0.79 to 0.89. In addition to contributing further insight to the current literature on policy implementation performance, the results also provide a reliable source of information to researchers and professional practitioners of educational policies for future research in policy implementation performance. Keywords: Educational policy, policy implementation, policy implementation performance, implementation leadership, scale development

Demographic Variables and Emotional Labor of Public Sector School Leaders

Emotional Labor theory of Hochschild, 1983 and Grandey, (2002, 2015 & 2017) provided as basis of current research that gives the regulation of emotions at workplace categorized the main two dimensions of EL as Surface Acting (SA) and Deep Acting level of the school leaders. Self developed Emotional Labor Measurement Scale for School Leaders (ELMS-SL) was used to measure the EL level of the public sector school leaders. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select the sample of 376 (male=194, 52% and females=182, 48%) school leaders working in public sector secondary schools of 19 district of Punjab province. The core objective of the research was to measure the EL level and contribution of demographic variables (gender, mode of job induction, marital status and work experience) towards the emotional regulation status through suppression of emotions and modification of feeling. To measure the EL level of public sector school leaders, data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, as well as t-tests, and ANOVA tests. The results revealed that public sector school leaders are practicing emotional labor. EL practices between male and female were significant difference, whereas mode of induction, marital status and job experience were found non-significant differences on EL.Key words: Emotional Labor, Surface Acting, Deep Acting, School Leaders, Demographic variables

Ideological leadership in public schools

PurposeThis study aims to explore the conception and construct of ideological leadership (IL) as it relates to public organizations, such as public schools, and to validate a tool for its measurement in this setting.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 633 teachers working at 69 randomly-sampled Israeli public schools. In each school, an average of nine (SD = 2) randomly-sampled teachers completed questionnaires that measure IL, transformational leadership, organizational commitment, leader-member exchange and motivational factors. The data underwent validity and hypotheses tests.FindingsThe hypothesized presence of the personalized and socialized IL orientations among public-school principals has been confirmed. Only personalized IL predicted teachers' outcomes above and beyond transformational leadership, affecting measures of organizational commitment, leader-member exchange and controlled motivation.Originality/valueNew evidence supports the validity of this proposed measurement tool. New evidence also suggests that although ideology has been known to be a factor of charismatic leadership, IL in close public-school settings accentuates practices of control, rather than proselytizing coherent worldviews to teachers. This, in turn, may have a deleterious influence on work outcomes and outweigh the possible benefits of IL. Accordingly, it is suggested that school leaders should critically consider the desirability of embracing ideological zeal as part of their leadership tools.

Emotional intelligence and school leaders: Evidence from Abu Dhabi

This is a qualitative exploratory study that focuses on emotional intelligence attributes of public-school leaders in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. The research questions endorsed the emotional intelligence school leaders exhibit along five dimensions: (a) self-awareness; (b) managing emotions; (c) motivation; (d) empathy; and (e) social skills. Furthermore, the study focused on how school leaders and managers utilise their emotional intelligence attributes professionally. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative research methodology was employed, which involved the use of interactive and participatory data collection in the form of semi-structured interviews with various categories of school leaders and managers. Furthermore, thematic data analysis was conducted, in order to reveal Abu Dhabi school leaders’ exhibition and utilisation of emotional intelligence attributes within their professional roles and responsibilities. While the study was limited to school leaders and managers in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, the findings implied the need for school leaders and managers to develop and nurture their professional emotional intelligence attributes, as many job-embedded constraints and challenges require the demonstration of essential emotional intelligence skills and traits. Hence, professional learning opportunities within the perspective of emotional intelligence need to be considered and developed to enable, facilitate and enhance school changes.