Investigation of servant leadership perceptions of preschool principals

The aim of this research is to examine the servant leadership perceptions of preschool principals. The research was designed with a qualitative research method approach. A phenomenological design suitable for the pattern of qualitative research was used. Snowball sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, was used in the research. Interviews In the 2022-2023 academic year, interviews were held with 14 school principals in Ankara, Istanbul and Sakarya. Questions about communication and cooperation, teacher motivation, productivity, student success and happiness, and positive school clima te related to the concepts in the literature to determine the servant leadership characteristics of school principals were asked to the participants. The data obtained at the end of the interview were classified according to the theme by the content analysis method. It has been concluded that preschool administrators should have some characteristics such as effective communication skills, professional knowledge and skills, being cooperative, fair, self-critical, problem-solving skills and giving confidence. Participants think that preschool administrators can be qualified as servant leaders when they have the specified characterist.