Best practice in the organization, management, and direction of educational centers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The objective of this paper is to deepen the knowledge of best practices in the exercise of school based management by considering the following variables: the relationship between teachers and the leadership team, the feedback processes, the results of a good practice, the response to novel situations, the variables to be taken into account to achieve the objectives, the attitudes of the good Head, the dynamics of project and innovation, the exchange of teaching practices and finally the self-evaluation processes. Numerous studies have been carried out on school leadership in recent decades, although this research provides a new approach such as that of best practices in school leadership. METHOD. A qualitative methodology based on Grounded Theory is used from the information obtained by means of Focus Group and subsequent coding and triangulation of data, with the support of Atlas ti 5.0. RESULTS. The results are presented with specific illustrations according to each of the variables studied. DISCUSSION. It is also organised according to the variables studied and it becomes clear, as the most outstanding aspects, that the relations between the teachers and the leadership team must be respectful, horizontal, bidirectional and participatory, developed through cooperation and collaboration strategies. They must take into account feedback processes by enhancing the culture of self-evaluation as a driver for the improvement processes at the school ; and they should not only focus on achieving good results, but also on improving the previous ones; furthermore, the context for its application will be necessary to bear in mind.