Views of school administrators about social justice leadership in education: Mixed method research

The purpose of this study was to examine the, opinions practices and solutions of school administrators regarding social justice leadership in Denizli. In this research, quantitative and qualitative data was used together in a mixed method exploratory sequential pattern. In the quantitative dimension of the study, 245 school administrators working in public schools in Merkezefendi and Pamukkale districts of Denizli province and 11 school administrators were included in the qualitative dimension of the study. The quantitative data of the study were collected with the "Social Justice Leadership" scale adapted to Turkish and the qualitative data were collected within a semi-structured interview form. When the quantitative data in the research findings were examined, it was determined that the levels of school administrators' views on social justice leadership were moderate. It was found that they were high in the context of school leadership, low in the school context, and moderate in social and political contexts. In the qualitative dimension of the research, it was observed that school administrators show social justice leadership behaviors while implementing social justice. Resource constraints, differences between regions and policies implemented cause limitations in the size of strategies applied by school administrators while implementing social justice. As a result, it was determined that the school administrators who participated in the research have individual orientations toward social justice; however, they struggle to implement these orientations due to a shortage of financial resources, regional differences, policies implemented, and insufficient knowledge and equipment regarding the social justice leadership approach.