| Abstract [eng] |
Kutelienė I. Manifestation of Leadership Models in the Work of a Head of a Preschool Education Institution. Master’s thesis of the study programme Education Policy and Leadership for Education Leaders. Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sergejus Neifachas. Vilnius University, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Educational Sciences: Vilnius, 2026. – 81 p. Keywords: leadership, leadership models, preschool education, the work of the head, transformational leadership, distributed leadership, change management. The theoretical part of the thesis analyses the concept of leadership in the context of educational management, discusses the main leadership models and their manifestation in an educational organisation. Particular attention is given to transformational, distributed and change management leadership, relating these models to the specific features of the work of a head of a preschool education institution. A qualitative methodological approach was chosen for the empirical study. The study involved 16 heads of Lithuanian preschool education institutions. Data were collected using the semi-structured interview method and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The research results revealed that heads of preschool education institutions most often associate leadership with the ability to unite people around a common goal, build a team, encourage cooperation, assume responsibility, make decisions and initiate organisational improvement. The features of transformational, distributed and change management leadership were most clearly manifested in the heads’ work. It was found that transformational leadership is expressed through creating the institution’s vision, motivating teachers and focusing activities on the improvement of educational quality. Distributed leadership is revealed through involving employees in decision-making, distributing responsibilities, supporting initiatives and strengthening a culture of cooperation. Change management leadership is manifested through recognising the need for change, initiating change, involving the community, reducing resistance and ensuring the sustainability of change. In conclusion, the leadership of a head of a preschool education institution is not limited to a single leadership model. It emerges as a combination of transformational, distributed and change management leadership, strengthening community engagement, teachers’ professional growth, organisational culture and the quality of education. |
