Romania

In Romania, school managers are supported through a series of initiatives and programs implemented by the Ministry of Education and other entities involved in the field of education.

Here are some ways school managers/leaders are supported: 

• Training and professional development: There are training and professional development programs exclusively for school managers, covering aspects such as institutional management, leadership, education law and other skills necessary for effective school administration.
• Resources and guides: The Ministry of Education and other organizations provide guides, manuals, and other practical resources for school managers to help them manage various aspects of schoolwork, such as managing human, financial and material resources.
• Access to additional funding: In some cases, school managers can access additional funding for specific projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education in their schools, such as projects to modernize school infrastructure or programs to develop the skills of students and teaching staff. 
• Consultancy and support: School managers can benefit from the support and consultancy offered by school inspectorates, educational advisers, and other specialized organizations to solve the administrative and pedagogical problems encountered in their work.
• Monitoring and evaluation: School managers are subject to regular processes of monitoring and evaluating their performance, which may include school inspections, student performance assessments and other tools to assess the quality of the educational process and institutional management.

In Romania, lesson plans for school leadership are often integrated into in-service training programs for teachers and school managers. These lesson plans aim to develop the leadership and management skills needed to effectively run an educational institution. Here are some examples of topics and content that can be included in lesson plans for leadership in schools:

• Principles of educational leadership: Exploring the fundamental concepts of leadership in the educational context, including defining goals and vision, effective communication, decision making, and team motivation.
• Strategic planning and implementation: Developing and implementing a strategic plan for the educational institution, including setting priorities, identifying needed resources, and evaluating progress toward achieving goals. 
• Assessing and improving school performance: Using data and performance indicators to assess the quality of the educational process and student outcomes, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and develop strategies to increase school performance.
• Ethics and values ​​in leadership: Examination of the ethical and moral aspects of leadership in education, including respecting the rights of students and staff, managing moral dilemmas, and promoting educational values ​​and principles.

In Romania, there are various practical activities and initiatives aimed at promoting and developing leadership in schools. These include:

• Workshops and seminars: Organization of workshops and seminars where school managers and teachers can learn and practice leadership, management, and communication skills under the guidance of experts in the field. 
• Mentoring programs: Implement mentoring programs where more experienced school managers can share their experience and knowledge with less experienced ones, providing them with support and guidance in developing leadership skills. 
• Simulations and practical exercises: Organization of simulations and practical exercises where school managers can practice decision-making, problem-solving and crisis management skills in a safe and controlled environment. 
• Projects and collaborations: Encouraging school managers to initiate and participate in projects and collaborations with other educational institutions or organizations in the community, which promote innovation, the exchange of best practices and the improvement of the quality of education.

 

Resources and materials for supporting school managers/leadership in Romanian schools

Annex 1: Leadership in Romanian Schools Tatiana Tutunaru – Doctoral School of Economic and Humanities from Târgoviște, Romania Tutunaru, T. (n.d.). Leadership in Romanian Schools. Retrieved February 27, 2024, from https://stec.univ-ovidius.ro/html/anale/RO/2022-issue2/Section%203/33.pdf 

Annex 2: Inclusive Leadership in Romanian Schools by Daniela Ionescu, and Vrăsmaș Ecaterina Ionescu, D., & Ecaterina, V. (2023). Special issue Special Issue. Educatia, 21(25), 2. https://doi.org/10.24193/ed21.2023.25.02 

Annex 3: Evolution trends of the leadership in the Romanian Academic environment
Marinescu, P., & Toma, S.-G. (2013). Change and Leadership Evolution trends of the leadership in the Romanian Academic environment. https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/api/file/viewByFileId/451262 

Annex 4 Practical activity for school managers in Romania

Annex 5 Inspirational case study for school managers in Romania

Annex 6 Simple lesson plan for promoting leadership in schools in Romania

Annex 7 Leadership implementation strategy in schools in Romania

Annex 8 THE NEED FOR LEADER CREATION AMONGST ROMANIAN SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

Vechiu, A.-P. (2020). THE NEED FOR LEADER CREATION AMONGST ROMANIAN SCHOOL PRINCIPALS – EDUCATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS. International Journal of Social and Educational Innovation (IJSEIro), 35–50.