Muslim Women Leadership: The Catalytic Style in Developing School Members' Psychological Well-Being Amidst Global Pandemic

Ummi Kultsum; Khamami Zada; Maya Defianty; Mumin Roup

doi:10.25217/igcj.v5i2.2711

Authors

Ummi Kultsum Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-5118
Khamami Zada Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1799-9979
Maya Defianty Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0330-1661
Mumin Roup Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3663-4075

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25217/igcj.v5i2.2711

Keywords:

women principal leadership, catalytic leadership, Islamic schools, well-being, global pandemic

Abstract

This article investigates how women principals practice their leadership to address the global pandemic challenges encountered by Islamic-based junior high schools or madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs). The study examines the key behaviors and practices school leaders, particularly women, implement to address the global pandemic challenges. Some challenges in the global pandemic, including learning management, developing an online curriculum, school facilities, teacher performance, and school members' psychological well-being, were indicated to hinder the learning effectiveness in MTs. The MTs principals, the top-level leaders in the institutions, play a critical role in addressing these issues. This research utilized a multiple case study approach and collected qualitative data from six MTs in Bogor, Tangerang, and Bekasi. An in-depth interview with 18 participants was conducted to investigate the women's principal leadership practices. The findings revealed that principals displayed a catalytic leadership approach through an agent of change where school members and stakeholders are invited to change the curriculum system and performance to respond to the challenges of the global pandemic. The results of this study also indicate that most female principals prioritize the well-being of teachers and students in facing learning challenges in the pandemic era.

Author Biographies

Ummi Kultsum, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

She is a lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Currently, she roles as the secretary of the study program at Magister of English Education Department (MPBI), UIN Jakarta. Her research focuses on education and leadership in Islamic-based schools (madrasahs), Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP), and Project-based learning (PBL) in teaching English as a second language. Ummi has wide experience on research in classroom action research, qualitative study, and mixed method of school management, school leadership, and language teaching. Currently, she is teaching legal English, advanced English language study, and second language acquisition.

Khamami Zada, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

He is is a lecturer at the Faculty of Sharia and Law at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta. His research focuses on sharia and political issues in several Asian regions (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam) and Europe (France and Germany). In addition, Khamami is also involved in research on education and radicalism/terrorism.

Maya Defianty, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

She is a lecturer at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta where she has taught several courses in the area related to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She has an extensive experience in working with English teachers in Indonesia on how to enhance their teaching practice. Her research interest is on teachers’ classroom assessment practice and critical thinking. She earned her PhD from the University of Canberra.

Mumin Roup, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

He is a lecturer at the Faculty of Sharia and Law, State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. His research focuses on Islamic thought related to law, national insight, gender, and social sciences. She was once active in the gender equality movement through the Center for Women's Studies at UIN Jakarta and attended a short course on gender at McGill University for three months. She has extensive experience in conducting research related to the social behavior of Muslims in general and women.

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