Ethical dilemmas among mid-level school leaders through role-play simulations: Developing a social-ecological approach

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine the ethical dilemmas among mid-level school leaders in the social-ecological context through role-play simulations. We examined simulations involving role-played ethical scenarios and group debriefings among 30 mid-level school leaders from different Israeli high schools and districts during the MA course in the educational leadership program. A qualitative analysis generated an expanded social-ecological model for mid-level school leaders. The model consists of six main layers: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, public policy, and technology. Each of the layers is divided into sub-categories. The study’s findings reveal the concurrent appearance of the different layers. These findings emphasize the complexity of the role of mid-level school leaders, as they cope simultaneously with a variety of ethical dilemmas characterized by multiple conflicting values. Moreover, the study findings indicated the interpersonal layer to be the most dominant layer, demonstrating mid-level leaders’ dual role as both classroom teachers and as team leaders. This study may contribute toward the development and modification of professional training programs for mid-level school leaders. It may also be helpful when designing strategies to deal with ethical challenges and to strengthen the school’s ethical leadership.

Teachers' perceptions of school principals' role in tackling the pandemic crisis

“…Finally, based on the collective findings from different contexts concerning school principals' role in addressing the pandemic crisis, we can infuse through technology various simulation activities for future school principals. This particular aspect includes school principals' professional training programs that has already been introduced in the literature by research studies contributing to school principals' ethical dilemmas in school organizations (Iftach and Shapira-Lishchinsky, 2021; Shapira-Lishchinsky, 2015).…”

School principals’ experiences of ethical leadership during times of accountability : complexities, dilemmas and dynamics.

“…Also, the findings from a study conducted in the USA in under resourced rural schools in Michigan indicated that school principals faced dilemmas that are related to educational policy issues (Kim & Lowery, 2021). In Israel, a study conducted from 30 mid-level school leaders from different districts concluded that school principals experienced ethical dilemmas from recurring tensions in caring for students and educators under their leadership, on one hand, and the need to follow formal rules, regulations, and professional standards, on the other (Iftach & Shapira-Lishchinsky, 2023). As emphasised by Arar and Saiti (2022), some of these dilemmas have clear legislation and guidelines, whereas others are characterised by uncertainty about how school principals should handle them.…”