e-Leadership of school principals: Increasing school effectiveness by a school data management system

In recent years, school management systems have become an important tool for effective e-leadership and data-based decision making. School systems emphasize an information flow and e-communication between teachers, students, and parents. This study examines e-leadership by secondary-school principals through the Mashov school system implemented in 500 Israeli schools in order to increase school effectiveness. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of academic year of 2010-2011 with ten participants: eight secondary-school principals, a Ministry of Education supervisor, and a director of the school principals' training program. The results indicate that the system provides extensive support for school principals in managing the organization, delegating responsibilities, promoting eleadership of teaching staff, and, consequently, increasing pedagogical effectiveness of their school. E-leadership through the school system changes the entire school culture. It includes making data-based decisions, monitoring curriculum implementation and learning performance, interacting with teachers, students and parents, improving the school climate, and raising the level of student and parental involvement. The results are discussed in terms of the Island of Innovation and the Comprehensive Innovation models of technology implementation (Avidov-Unger & Eshet-Alkalai, 2011). In order to enhance e-leadership, we recommend school principals expanding the implementation of school systems among students and parents, delegating e-leadership responsibilities, and monitoring the level of teacher activity within the system.