Islamic school leadership: a conceptual framework

ABSTRACTIt is urgent that education scholars explore how Islamic values shape (and are shaped by) Muslim school leader beliefs, given the heightened anti-Muslim sentiment present in western contexts. Yet, there is a lack of scholarship on non-western approaches to leading schools. To address this gap, we drew from extant Islamic and educational leadership literature to develop a conceptual framework for Islamic school leadership. The framework is grounded in Islamic values and beliefs that cross socio-religious and contextual boundaries. Outside the framework are Islamic leader values. Inside the framework are four inner domains that influence the encircling values. Some beliefs will hold more sway that others, which will provide new insight into how Muslim leaders perceive their work and how this may influence their practice. Our expectation is that this framework will be tested, refined, and interrogated through empirical inquiry, thereby furthering scholarship in non-western contexts.