The effects of leadership behaviours of primary and senior schools' management executives on their teachers' professional development

This research has been conducted to discover the effects of leadership behaviours of primary and senior schools' management executives on their teachers' professional development. School management has great responsibility in enabling their teachers' professional development. Their ability to display leadership in teaching skills, to motivate teachers for their own professional development, to create a 'learning school' environment and to organise relevant activities and encourage participation will provide opportunities for teachers to develop themselves. As a direct and indirect result, schools where teachers develop themselves professionally will become more successful and effective schools. In this research, as well as the effects of leadership behaviours of primary and senior schools' management executives on their teachers' professional development, aspects of leadership approaches are identified where further development can be made and suggestions are given to support improvements on those aspects. The research population is the teachers working in state and independent primary and senior schools in Besiktas, a district of Istanbul, Turkey, in academic year of 2012-2013. The research sample is made up of 338 teachers who work in the district of Besiktas, Istanbul in academic year 2012-2013. No significant results have been found in variables of educational status or age. However significant results have been discovered in variables of gender, status and the type of school and seniority. The statements that most participants rate positively are (the ones they agree with the most): "A reward system is in place to differentiate learning teachers and not-learning teachers", "Communal meetings are held where social problems can be discussed" and "Engages in activities in which teachers are motivated". The statements that most participants rate negatively are (the ones they disagree the most): "Fulfilling their professional responsibility", "Having awareness of continuous development requirement" "Engaging in quality raising activities". Keywords: School management, school principles, teaching leadership, leadership behaviours, professional development