Building Capacity, Driving Impact: A Holistic Approach to School Leader Development

This systematic literature review explores the multifaceted landscape of "Building School Leader Capacity for Impact." Drawing upon diverse studies, the review identifies key strategies to enhance the capacity of school leaders, underscoring their direct influence on educational outcomes. The findings reveal that professional development, including sustained and job-embedded initiatives, serves as a cornerstone for capacity building, aligning leaders with the dynamic challenges of educational leadership. Additionally, the transformative potential of distributed leadership models emerges, emphasizing the benefits of shared responsibility and decentralized decision-making within school communities. Contextualized approaches to capacity building stand out as a vital finding, emphasizing the need to tailor strategies to the unique challenges of individual educational settings. This departure from a one-size-fits-all approach recognizes the diverse needs of schools and communities. The review also highlights the enduring impact of capacity-building initiatives on student outcomes, with sustained efforts correlating positively with lasting achievements. The synthesis of these findings informs evidence-based practices for educational stakeholders, fostering effective leadership that positively influences student experiences and outcomes. The review calls for a renewed commitment to continuous learning, collaborative leadership, and contextually grounded strategies as essential components in the journey towards educational excellence