Page 101 - Educational Leadership in a Changing World

5 Navigating between Principalship,

Leadership and Management

Martina Kovačič
University of Primorska, Slovenia
Anita Trnavčević
University of Primorska, Slovenia
© 2025 Martina Kovačič and Anita Trnavčević
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-504-7.5

Introduction
In 2009, we published an article (Trnavčevič & Roncelli Vaupot, 2009)
discussing aspiring principals in Slovenia. Among our findings, we dis-
covered that aspiring principals tend to describe their roles as paternal-
istic and hierarchical, often assigning a management role to the princi-
pal. Leadership style and power were closely linked to the principal’s po-
sition (Trnavčevič & Roncelli Vaupot, 2009, pp. 99–100). Furthermore,
participants in the study characterized a principal’s role as paternalistic
and protective.
In 2024, a principal appeared on the critical tv show Tarča (Prazni
katedri, 2024) and expressed concern that teachers must be protected
from parents who communicate disrespectfully and demand better
grades for their children. She claimed that an excessive involvement
of ‘unprofessional publics’ in teachers’ professional autonomy occurs
in schools. This indicates that after over 16 years, the focus on lead-
ership still emphasizes managerial practice and the power dynamics
inherent in the principal’s role.
In daily newspaper Delo, a principal sb has called for ‘practical solu-
tions’ without engaging in theoretical discussions (Kuralt, 2025). In his
view, principals are often expected to address ‘practical’ issues rather
than engage in educational theory. This perspective directs principals to
act more as managers than true leaders. By basic definition, leadership
involves influencing and inspiring followers. If we consider teachers to
be the followers, then principals must empower them to maintain their
autonomy and professionalism in both internal and external contexts.

Trnavčević, A., & Kafa, A. (Eds.). (2025). Educational leadership
in a changing world: Challenges, practices, contexts and insights.
University of Primorska Press.