The dissertation provides a theoretical generalization and a practical solution to the problem of fostering the leadership competence of future women-directors of secondary schools in Turkey. In the focus of attention is the phenomenon of leadership in management in the educational system, which takes into account gender stereotypes and specific features of developing leadership qualities of women-directors of secondary schools in Turkey.
In the paper it has been revealed that leadership competence in terms of its content and purpose reflects the common features of the principal of an educational institution and the leader in education. It is also noted that within the framework of the culturological approach leadership competence is a manifestation of both general and professional culture and professionalism of the manager. At the same time, the realization of job opportunities is not limited to professional competence, as it is important for the directors of secondary schools to possess not only managerial but also leadership competence.
Based on the analysis of theoretical sources, organizational and legal support of education at the present stage of socio-cultural development, and current trends in training women for management in educational institutions in Turkey, it has been concluded that leadership competence of future directors of educational institutions is definite multifaceted phenomenon. Consequently director-trainees have a prerogative to direct the activities of their subordinates in a definite direction, to provide them with a necessary and encourage them in their activities. In addition, leadership competence also implies the ability of the leader to focus the subordinates on solving common issues, the ability to interact with a diverse team, support their creative activity, form their sense of community and so on.
It has been proved that the content of the studied phenomenon covers a set of interdependent and interconnected components: functional, cognitive and value-ethical, which are ensured by obtained knowledge, skills, management experience, and the attitude to the professional management.
Advancing leadership competence of future directors of secondary schools is defined as a dynamic step-by-step process of promoting of functional, cognitive and value-ethical components of management.
The experience of management of secondary educational institutions demonstrates that the principles of management leadership are slowly being introduced into the practice of managers at different levels. This causes certain problems in organizational and pedagogical activities and affects the educational results and reputational achievements of secondary schools. In turn, this has an inverse effect on the overall quality of management of secondary schools and requires the implementation of appropriate measures.
Pedagogical modeling has involved constructing a structural semantic model of enhancing leadership competence director-trainees of secondary schools and allowed studying the process of developing the sought for quality as a component of managerial professionalism. For this purpose the program guidelines of professional school management and leadership skills have been introduced. The modeling has ensured the managerial interpretation of the main provisions of the study, as well as the design of organizational and pedagogical tools for fostering leadership competence of potential leaders of secondary schools in Turkey.
In the process of research the structure of leadership competence of directors of secondary schools has been scholarly substantiated (which is based on cognitive, functional, value-ethical components. İt has set the ground for a system of organizational and pedagogical activities aimed at enhancing leadership competence of teachers as future directors of secondary schools in Turkey.
The activity characteristics of the components of leadership competence of the directors of secondary schools in Turkey in the gender context have also been exposed; the essence of respective leadership qualities and tools of developing these qualities have been revealed; the content of training potential leaders to manage the organizational and pedagogical processes inherent in secondary schools in Turkey has been identified. The tools for assessing the leadership qualities of potential heads of secondary schools in Turkey have been devised.
The ways of developing leadership qualities in pedagogical workers trained for managerial activity as potential assistants of directors of general educational institutions have been introduced. To achieve this goal, the research has specified the content of special training for assistant school directors, as well as developed and tested a special course "Teaching and School Leadership", targeted at women-teachers, who are inclined to managerial activities.
