Ideal managerial characteristics of preschool stage administrators

The aim of this study is to reveal the ideal managerial characteristics of preschool administrators according to the views of preschool teachers. At the same time, it is also aimed to reveal how the ideal managerial characteristics reflect on the school, students and teachers. In line with this purpose, since the aim of the study was to examine in depth the views of the administrators working in preschool education institutions on ideal managerial characteristics, the phenomenological design within the qualitative research method was preferred. The study group of the research consists of 10 preschool teachers working in preschool education institutions in Düzce province affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the 2022-2023 academic year. A semi-structured interview form was used to collect data in the study. In the light of the data obtained from preschool teachers in the study, findings were obtained under three main themes. These are "Administrative and Personal Characteristics of the Ideal Preschool Administrator", "Reflection of Ideal Administrative Characteristics on the School" and "Types of Support and Resources Provided by the Ideal Preschool Administrator". When the findings obtained are analysed, the most prominent factor within the scope of the administrative characteristics expected from the ideal preschool administrator under the first theme is "pedagogical competencies". Within the scope of personal characteristics, "communication skills" emerged as the most prominent factor. Under the second theme, "providing educational resources" and "providing material-physical resources" were found within the scope of providing support and resources expected from the ideal preschool administrator. When the last theme, Reflection of the Managerial and Personal Characteristics of the Ideal Preschool Administrator to the School, is considered, the codes of "consultation" for teachers and "thinking about the benefit of children" for students have emerged as important expectations. Looking at the reflection of the ideal preschool administrator to the school in general, it was seen that the ideal preschool administrator was accepted as a person who solves problems, encourages participation and ensures the development of the school in this direction.