Designing a Competency Model for School Principals

This study aimed to design a competency model of school principals. It was applied in terms of purpose, using an exploratory design and mixed method approach. The statistical population in the qualitative phase consisted of 15 scientific experts in Sabzevar who were selected by purposeful sampling, and sampling continued until data saturation. The statistical population of the quantitative phase involved 153 persons selected based on double count method. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview that was prepared according to the opinions of professors and experts. In the quantitative phase, a researcher-made questionnaire of principal competency model was used to collect the data, and it involved 5 main dimensions and 17 sub-dimensions derived from the results of qualitative interviews. Qualitative data analysis was done based on grounded theory, and in terms of descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check the normality of data distribution, t-test was used to check the significant relationship between the variables, and for testing sample adequacy and correlation, KMO and Bartlett’s test as well as model design using structural equation modeling were used. The results of the quantitative phase showed that in this study the t value of the dimensions of principal competency model was estimated to be from 3.03 to 11.98, which was more than the assumed t value (1.96). Therefore, given the significance of this coefficient with 99% confidence, it can be stated that all the above dimensions have a positive effect on it. The highest value of t was for knowledge and awareness and the least value was for criticism.