Strategic Leadership for Quality Management: A Professional Development Program for Thai Primary School Principals

• In Event: Toward Equality, Inclusive Practices, and Strategic Leadership in International Education Settings: Lessons Learned From Bangladesh, Nicaragua, and Thailand

Abstract

Quality management (QM) is a key part of a school’s quest for effectiveness and improvement. QM enables administrators to develop the school as an organizational system and to create a culture of continuous improvement. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to develop a strategic leadership model for quality management at Thai primary schools. The model was implemented by designing and delivering a professional development program for principals at 32 primary schools. Data for this study were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results indicate that the professional development program was implemented to a “high degree.” In addition, principals reported that the strategic leadership model could be modified, thus enabling schools to become high performance organizations (HPOs).

Authors

• Forrest W. Parkay, Washington State University

• Kanokorn Somprach, Khon Kaen University