The Study On The Kindergarten Principal Leadership In The Context Of Education Reform

With the economic globalization and the rapid development of science and technology, today’s world is in constant change. Being one of the most important features of the current education, social change has become a tremendous driving force to the educational reform. Kindergarten, as the cornerstone of the entire education system, has experienced profound and rapid changes both interiorly and exteriorly. Change is impossible without the participation of human. As the “agent of change”, the leaders’ attitude and behavior are of great significance to the effect of the change. The kindergarten principals have overall responsibility for the work of the kindergartens and are playing a decisive role in promoting the reform and development of the kindergarten. In the reform, relying solely on the powers of the post makes it difficult for the principals to affect the faculty profoundly and effectively and get their extensive support and recognition. They should play a greater focus on leadership.To study the leadership issues of kindergarten principals in depth, we must put it in the context of education reform and the practices of kindergartens. In this research, the author has conducted literature analysis, questionnaire, and interview and so on to study the principal leadership issues in-depth and has mastered the development condition and the plight of kindergarten principal leadership. On the basis of the research and investigation, the author also discussed strategies to promote the leadership of kindergarten principals.The main contents are as follows:In the first chapter, the background knowledge of the principal leadership studies is sorted out. Grasping the kindergarten development and the internal and external situations of kindergartens clearly are the basis of the research. This chapter focuses on the features of the organizational environment, i.e. kindergartens, where the principals implement their leadership under the macro-background of the education reform. Secondly, the trend of the kindergarten reform, including the reform of pre-school education concept, kindergarten management system, the kindergarten curriculum and teaching, is analyzed. In order to meet the trend of the reform, it is proposed that the principal should re-examine their role and highlight their position as a core leader of the kindergarten.The second chapter aims to explore the meaning of principal leadership. Based on the comprehensive analysis of “leadership” and the related concepts of “leadership”, and combining the occupation connotation of the principals, the author explicitly put forward the concept of kindergarten principal leadership. It is the basis of the study to explore the specific content of the kindergarten principal leadership. Based on the existing research results and the characteristics of principal leadership, the principal leadership is classified into four dimensions: value leadership, human leadership, educational leadership and structural leadership. The follow-up study will focus on these four dimensions.The third chapter is the questionnaire survey on the overall status of principal leadership in education reform. Theoretical studies should be based on facts. The qualitative research method is more suitable for large-scale investigation and forecasts at the macro level. This chapter uses the questionnaire as the research method and the kindergarten principal as the research object. Through the scientific analysis of the questionnaire, the author investigated the influence to the principal leadership from the level of principal leadership development, as well as seniority, tenure, education and geographic location and other factors to provide a rich and detailed data for future study.The fourth chapter focuses on the interview research on the principal leadership. Education is a complex human phenomenon. Qualitative research is more suitable to be used to dynamically describe and analyze individual things at the micro level. Taking into account the purpose and contents of this paper, in accordance with the conclusions of the survey, the author designed the interview outline around the practice of the principals. Through the further interview to the 20 kindergarten principals, the basic situation and influencing factors of the principal leadership as well as the practical problems the principals encountered are explored.The fifth chapter centers on the promotion strategies of kindergarten principal leadership. Based on the previous empirical research, according to constitute latitude of the principal leadership, the author proposed that the kindergarten principals should enhance their leadership level and ultimately improve the quality of teaching and nursing of kindergartens through building a shared vision, creating a distinctive culture, developing a harmonious atmosphere, realizing a professional guidance and so on.