EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP: STRATEGIES FOR A COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Educational leadership is a field that requires special attention due to its importance in the formation and development of school communities. The relevance of this theme is justified by the need to transform the educational environment, in order to provide more effective and inclusive learning. The main objective of this study is to analyze the competencies needed by educational leaders who seek to promote a culture of innovation and collaboration in schools. The research adopted a mixed methodology, incorporating a bibliographic approach to support theories about leadership and a quantitative analysis through questionnaires applied to educators. The main results indicate that effective educational leadership is associated with open communication practices and the promotion of continuous professional development of the faculty. In addition, leaders who cultivate an environment of trust and mutual respect achieve better results in terms of student engagement and performance. The most relevant conclusions point out that the ability to inspire and motivate the educational team is fundamental, as well as the role of the leader as a facilitator of an environment that stimulates innovation. Therefore, educational leadership is an essential element in the search for improving the quality of education, positively influencing the teaching-learning process and the integral development of students.