The Principal’s Role as a Change Agent in Building a Culture of Teacher Compliance with School Policies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59211/mjpjetl.v4i1.290

Keywords:

Keywords: principal; change agent; compliance culture; school policy; teachers.

Abstract

This study aims to describe the principal’s role as a change agent, identify supporting and inhibiting factors, and analyze the principal’s strategies in strengthening teachers’ compliance with school policies. The research employs a qualitative approach and was conducted at a public junior high school in Pelangiran Subdistrict, Indragiri Hilir Regency. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation, and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model, with data validity ensured through source and technique triangulation. The results show that the principal acts as a change agent through role modeling, coaching, supervision, participatory communication, and teacher empowerment. Supporting factors include teacher commitment, a family-like work climate, simple reward systems, and the use of digital technology, while inhibiting factors comprise resistance to change, heavy workload, limited technological competence, and inconsistent rule enforcement. The strategies employed include strengthening role modeling, continuous coaching and supervision, proportional reward and punishment, optimization of information systems, and reinforcing a culture of mutual reminder. This study concludes that effective principal leadership can shift teacher compliance from mere formality toward compliance based on awareness and collective professional responsibility.

Article Statistics
0
Abstract Views
0
Total Downloads
0
PDF Downloads
21
References
Jul 21, 2026
Published

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] E. Mulyasa, Menjadi Guru Profesional. PT Remaja Rosdakarya, 2021.

[2] N. Fitriani and R. Yuliana, “The effectiveness of Canva-based learning media in improving writing skills,” J. Lang. Teach. Learn., vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 101–110, 2022.

[3] B. M. Bass and B. J. Avolio, Improving organizational effectiveness through transformational leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1994.

[4] K. Lewin, Field theory in social science: Selected theoretical papers. New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1951.

[5] P. Hallinger and J. Murphy, “Assessing the instructional management behavior of principals,” Elem. Sch. J., vol. 86, no. 2, pp. 217–247, 1985.

[6] A. N. K. Azha, F. R. Dinata, and A. Mahmud, “The role of principals as change agents in implementing the Independent Curriculum and its effect on teachers’ understanding at SMP Negeri 2 Buay Bahuga,” Islam. Manag. J. Manaj. Pendidik. Islam, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 33–37, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://www.jmpi.stit-alhikmahwk.ac.id/jmpi/article/view/10

[7] Z. Zuriati, Y. Citriadin, and R. Rustam, “Principals as change agents: Building a positive and inclusive school culture at SDN 1 Taman Sari,” J. Pendidikan, Sains, Geol. Dan Geofis. (GeoScienceEd Journal), vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 219–224, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://jpfis.unram.ac.id/index.php/GeoScienceEdu/article/view/609

[8] Z. I. Fadillah, “The principal’s role in encouraging innovation and positive change,” JME J. Manag. Educ., vol. 2, no. 03, pp. 95–101, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://journal.sabajayapublisher.com/index.php/jme/article/view/447

[9] T. A. Selvia, S. A. Putra, and M. Badrun, “The principal’s role in improving the work culture of elementary-school teachers,” Manaj. Pendidik., pp. 209–223, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://journals2.ums.ac.id/index.php/jmp/article/view/8141

[10] I. S. S. Sumardi and U. Nurfaizi, “The role of leadership as a change agent in implementing the Sekolah Penggerak program,” J. Pendidik. Widyatama, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 179–184, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://jurnal.bbpmpjateng.id/index.php/jpw/article/view/16

[11] D. T. Wibawani, B. B. Wiyono, and D. D. N. Benty, “Visionary principal leadership as change leadership for improving educational quality,” JAMP J. Adm. dan Manaj. Pendidik., vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 181–187, 2019, [Online]. Available: https://journal-fip.um.ac.id/index.php/jamp/article/view/1889

[12] M. Mustiningsih, M. Maisyaroh, and N. Ulfatin, “The role of visionary principal leadership and its relationship with teacher readiness to face the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” JMSP (Jurnal Manaj. dan Supervisi Pendidikan), vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 101–112, 2020, [Online]. Available: https://journal-fip.um.ac.id/index.php/jmsp/article/view/2154

[13] A. J. Medford and C. G. Brown, “Newly appointed principals’ challenges in learning and adjusting to school culture,” Heliyon, vol. 8, no. 9, p. e10542, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10542.

[14] F. Bakri, W. Fitriani, H. Permana, A. D. Anjani, and V. D. Cahyani, “Deep learning training: Improving teacher competence in implementing the 2024 Merdeka Curriculum,” Mitra Teras J. Terap. Pengabdi. Masy., vol. 4, no. 2, 2025, doi: 10.58797/teras.0402.06.

[15] A. S. Harahap and F. R. Nasution, “The effectiveness of the Merdeka Mengajar Platform in academic supervision at A-accredited public senior high schools,” J. Pendidik. Indones., vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 891–904, 2024.

[16] A. Ramadhani, “The effect of big book media on beginning reading skills in elementary students,” Int. J. Learn. Reform. Elem. Educ., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 143–154, 2025, doi: 10.56741/ijlree.v4i02.1014.

[17] B. Restiani, H. Hariri, and R. Rini, “The effect of principal transformational leadership on teacher job satisfaction: A literature review,” J. Akuntabilitas Manaj. Pendidik., vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 27–37, 2024, doi: 10.21831/jamp.v12i2.77007.

[18] A. Syahminan, Aslamiah, and A. Suriansyah, “The effect of school culture, principal instructional leadership, and work commitment on teacher performance in public elementary schools in Candi Laras Utara Subdistrict, Tapin Regency,” Edukasia J. Pendidik. dan Pembelajaran, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1249–1254, 2024, doi: 10.62775/edukasia.v5i1.1013.

[19] A. Denopan, “The effect of school management information systems on teacher discipline,” J. Innov. Res. Knowl., vol. 3, no. 10, pp. 2203–2210, 2024.

[20] R. Rosmayni, Y. Arafat, and M. Rosani, “The influence of principal leadership and work culture on the work discipline of vocational school teachers,” JIIP J. Ilm. Ilmu Pendidik., vol. 6, no. 6, pp. 3924–3931, 2023, doi: 10.54371/jiip.v6i6.2112.

[21] M. Khasanah and W. F. Antariksa, “Implementing electronic attendance to improve the discipline of teachers and staff in Islamic elementary schools,” JIEMAN J. Islam. Educ. Manag., vol. 3, no. 2, 2021.

Downloads

Published

21-07-2026

Issue

Section

Articles

URN

Similar Articles

1-10 of 129

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)