Democratic school and educational leadership: The case of democratic-distributed leadership

Authors

  • Georgios Bestias University of Patras

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60923/issn.1970-2221/24213

Keywords:

democratic school, educational leadership, democratic-distributed leadership, distributed leadership, democratic leadership

Abstract

In recent years, neoliberal strategies and practices have dominated contemporary school education. These approaches have shaped educational realities in which schools strive to maximise efficiency through predetermined targets and measurable outcomes. In such an environment, the idea of democracy appears to be fading, along with a sense of responsibility for the common good and constructive dialogue. Today, schools seem to be losing the creative potential of the democratic way of life advocated by Dewey, which transforms students’ individualism into participation and collectivity. Therefore, school administration plays a vital role in strengthening democratic schools through the practical application of collaborative and participatory models of educational leadership. In this study, we clarify the concept of the democratic school and show how democracy can be strengthened in the school environment through the democratic-distributed model of educational leadership.

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Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

Bestias, G. (2026). Democratic school and educational leadership: The case of democratic-distributed leadership. Ricerche Di Pedagogia E Didattica. Journal of Theories and Research in Education, 21(1), 399–408. https://doi.org/10.60923/issn.1970-2221/24213

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