Transformational Leadership of School Principals in Improving the Professional Competence of Junior High School Teachers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59944/postaxial.v4i1.2092Keywords:
Kepemimpinan Transformasional, Kompetensi Profesional, Kepala Sekolah, Komunitas BelajarAbstract
The demands of implementing a new curriculum and technological disruption require an increase in teacher professional competence, which is highly dependent on the effectiveness of the principal's transformational leadership. This study aims to analyze the implementation, obstacles, and solutions of transformational leadership in improving teacher professional competence at SMP Negeri 3 Baleendah and SMP Negeri 38 Bandung City. The study used a qualitative approach with a case study design, where data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation studies, and analyzed using triangulation techniques. The findings indicate that the principal successfully implemented four dimensions of transformational leadership: idealization of influence through exemplary presence and literacy, inspirational motivation through vision articulation and psychological strengthening, intellectual stimulation by disrupting pedagogical comfort zones towards digital utilization, and individual consideration through asset-based clinical mentoring. Obstacles that emerged included resistance to innovation, managerial time deficit, competency disparity, and limited facilities. The implemented solutions included institutionalizing communal learning communities, cross-generational collaboration, ongoing in-house training, and data-driven coaching. Adaptive transformational leadership has proven to be highly effective in dismantling individualistic work cultures and reconstructing them into resilient learning organizations, thereby significantly boosting teachers' autonomy and the quality of their professional competence.
References
Anwar, S., & Umam, H. (2020). Transformative Education: Emphasizing 21st Century Skills and Competencies in The Independent Learning Curriculum. AIM: Journal of Islamic Education Management, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.15575/aim.v1i1.28886
Anwar, S., Maulani, F., Lutfiah, W., Syadiah, S. I. H., & Azizah, A. S. N. (2025). Integrasi Nilai Ketauhidan dan Ekopedagogi dalam Kurikulum Madrasah Ibtidaiyah untuk Penguatan Karakter Peduli Lingkungan. TSAQAFATUNA: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 7(1).
Apiyani. (2024). Pengawasan Kepala Sekolah dan Dampaknya terhadap Kedisiplinan Guru.
Arikunto, S. (2019). Prosedur Penelitian: Suatu Pendekatan Praktik. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta.
Astuti, & Hendriani. (2024). Pengorganisasian Kepala Sekolah dan Pengaruhnya terhadap Kinerja Guru.
Avolio, B. J. (1999). Full leadership development: Building the vital forces in organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Basri, H. (2021). Kepemimpinan Pendidikan: Teori dan Aplikasi di Sekolah. Bandung: Alfabeta.
Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1994). Improving organizational effectiveness through transformational leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Bogdan, R., & Taylor, S. (2017). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya.
Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Creswell, J. W. (2023). Research Design: Qualitative Inquiry. Jakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.
DuFour, R. (2004). What is a professional learning community? Educational Leadership, 61(8), 6-11.
Fullan, M. (2007). The new meaning of educational change (4th ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Glickman, C. (2002). Leadership for Learning. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE Publications.
Hallinger, P. (2003). Leading educational change: Reflections on the practice of instructional and transformational leadership. Cambridge Journal of Education, 33(3), 329-352.
Handayaningrat, S. (2020). Pengantar Studi Ilmu Administrasi dan Manajemen. Jakarta: CV Haji Masagung.
Hasibuan, M. S. P. (2020). Manajemen: Dasar, Pengertian, dan Masalah. Jakarta: Bumi Aksara.
Hoy, W. K., & Miskel, C. G. (2013). Educational administration: Theory, research, and practice (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Ismail. (2025). Struktur Kerja Kolaboratif Kepala Sekolah. Surabaya: Mitra Pendidikan.
Jali. (2023). Perencanaan Inovatif dalam Manajemen Sekolah. Bandung: Humaniora.
Katz, D., & Kahn, R. L. (1978). The social psychology of organizations (2nd ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Kuswanda, W., Sauri, R. S., & Anwar, S. (2026). Principals Managerial Leadership Strategy in Maintaining the Sustainability of New Student Enrollment. At Turots: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(1), 357–367. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.51468/jpi.v8i1.1133
Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (2000). The Effects of Transformational Leadership on Organizational Conditions. Toronto: OISE Press.
Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (2005). A review of transformational school leadership research 1996–2005. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 4(3), 177-199.
Marks, H. M., & Printy, S. M. (2003). Principal leadership and school performance: An integration of transformational and instructional leadership. Educational Administration Quarterly, 39(3), 370-397.
Maryati, N. M., Hidayat, H., Sulastri, N., & Anwar, S. (2025). School Management in Preventing Bullying in Primary Schools. Journal of Innovation and Research in Primary Education, 4(4), 1891–1903. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56916/jirpe.v4i4.1770
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. California: SAGE Publications.
Moleong, L. J. (2017). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya.
Moolenaar, N. M., Daly, A. J., & Sleegers, P. J. C. (2010). Occupying the principal position: Examining relationships between transformational leadership, social network position, and schools’ innovative climate. Educational Administration Quarterly, 46(4), 623-670.
Mulyadi, A., Fitriana, N., & Rahman, H. (2020). Pengaruh motivasi inspirasional terhadap burnout guru pasca-sertifikasi. Jurnal Administrasi Pendidikan, 12(2), 45-58.
Mulyasa, E. (2013). Menjadi Kepala Sekolah Profesional. Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya.
Republik Indonesia. (2003). Undang-Undang Nomor 20 Tahun 2003 tentang Sistem Pendidikan Nasional. Jakarta: Sekretariat Negara.
Republik Indonesia. (2005). Undang-Undang Nomor 14 Tahun 2005 tentang Guru dan Dosen. Jakarta: Sekretariat Negara.
Republik Indonesia. (2021). Peraturan Menteri Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi Nomor 40 Tahun 2021 tentang Penugasan Guru sebagai Kepala Sekolah. Jakarta: Kemendikbudristek.
Riyanti, R., Sauri, R. S., & Anwar, S. (2026). Transformation of Student Management in Increasing Student Participation in Non Academic Activities. At Turots: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(1), 309–319. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.51468/jpi.v8i1.1131
Sanusi, A. (2015). Manajemen Pendidikan: Teori dan Praktik. Bandung: Alfabeta.
Senge, P. M. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. New York, NY: Doubleday/Currency.
Suherman, U., Cipta, E. S., Anwar, S., Kadir, W. A., Fakhrurrozi, M. F., Namira, S. H., & Halimatussadiyah, W. (2025). Implementing a Kindness-Based Leadership Strategy in Islamic Elementary Education. EDUKASIA: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 6(1), 281–292. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.62775/edukasia.v6i1.1384
Sulastri, N., Anwar, S., Suherman, U., & Cipta, E. S. (2024). Deep Learning-Based Planning Model for Islamic Education in Indonesian Integrated Schools. EDUKASIA Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 5(2), 645–658. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.62775/edukasia.v5i2.1734
Terry, G. R. (2021). Principles of Management. New York: Richard D. Irwin.
Thoonen, E. E. J., Sleegers, P. J. C., Oort, F. J., Peetsma, T. T. D., & Geijsel, F. P. (2011). How to improve teaching practices: The role of teacher motivation, organizational factors, and leadership practices. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 33(3), 496-536.
Tilaar, H. A. R. (2020). Manajemen Pendidikan Nasional. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta.
Usman, H. (2019). Manajemen: Teori, Praktik, dan Riset Pendidikan. Jakarta: Bumi Aksara.
Vescio, V., Ross, D., & Adams, A. (2008). A review of research on the impact of professional learning communities on teaching practice and student learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24(1), 80-91.
