The Role of Transformational Leadership and Competency Development of Teachers and Educational Staff in Improving School Performance

Abstract

Transformational leadership has become an essential approach for strengthening human resource capacity and improving school performance. However, qualitative evidence explaining how transformational leadership fosters the competency development of teachers and educational staff within Islamic senior secondary schools (madrasahs) remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the role of the principal’s transformational leadership in promoting competency development and improving school performance at MA Miftahul Falah, Bandung City. A qualitative case study design was employed, involving the principal, vice principals, teachers, educational staff, and other relevant stakeholders selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observations, and document analysis, and analyzed using the interactive model of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing supported by source and method triangulation. The findings indicate that transformational leadership is implemented through shared vision, inspirational motivation, open communication, empowerment, and support for continuous professional development, contributing to enhanced instructional quality, administrative effectiveness, and organizational performance. The study further reveals that religious values, a family-oriented organizational culture, and the intrinsic motivation of teachers and educational staff reinforce the effectiveness of transformational leadership. These findings contribute to educational leadership literature by proposing a context-sensitive perspective that integrates transformational leadership, competency development, and organizational culture to achieve sustainable school performance in madrasahs.