Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh peran kepala sekolah dalam menerapkan kepemimpinan situasional untuk meningkatkan kinerja guru di Sekolah Dasar Kecamatan Salang, Kabupaten Simeulue, yang memiliki keterbatasan sumber daya dan tantangan geografis kepulauan. Kepemimpinan situasional yang adaptif diperlukan agar kepala sekolah mampu menyesuaikan gaya kepemimpinannya dengan kesiapan dan motivasi guru sehingga tercipta iklim kerja produktif dan pembelajaran berkualitas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (1) mendeskripsikan peran kepemimpinan situasional kepala sekolah dalam meningkatkan kinerja guru; (2) menganalisis strategi kepemimpinan situasional yang diterapkan kepala sekolah; dan (3) mengidentifikasi tantangan yang dihadapi dalam penerapannya di sekolah. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan studi dokumentasi. Penelitian dilaksanakan di tiga SD Negeri di Kecamatan Salang, yaitu SD Negeri 2 Salang (akreditasi C), SD Negeri 4 Salang, dan SD Negeri 8 Salang (akreditasi B), dengan subjek penelitian sebanyak 12 orang yang terdiri atas tiga kepala sekolah dan sembilan guru yang dipilih secara purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) dari segi peran, kepala sekolah berfungsi sebagai motivator, pengarah, dan pembina dengan menyesuaikan gaya kepemimpinan terhadap kesiapan guru; (2) dari segi strategi, kepala sekolah menerapkan empat gaya utama, memberi instruksi (telling), membimbing (selling), melibatkan (participating), dan mendelegasikan (delegating), serta memperkuat supervisi akademik, pemberdayaan guru, dan komunikasi dua arah; (3) dari segi tantangan, kepala sekolah menghadapi keterbatasan fasilitas, motivasi guru, dan hambatan geografis, namun mengatasinya melalui pendekatan persuasif, kolaborasi, dan dukungan moral. Kesimpulannya bahwa kepemimpinan situasional kepala sekolah berperan penting dalam meningkatkan kinerja guru serta mendukung peningkatan mutu pendidikan dasar di wilayah kepulauan.

Kata Kunci: Kepala Sekolah, Kepemimpinan Situasional, Kinerja Guru, Sekolah Dasar

This study is grounded in the role of school principals in applying situational leadership to improve teacher performance in elementary schools in Salang District, Simeulue Regency, an area characterized by limited resources and the geographical challenges of an archipelagic region. Adaptive situational leadership is required so that principals are able to adjust their leadership styles to teachers’ levels of readiness and motivation, thereby fostering a productive work climate and high-quality learning. This study aims to: (1) describe the role of principals’ situational leadership in improving teacher performance; (2) analyze the situational leadership strategies implemented by principals; and (3) identify the challenges encountered in its implementation in schools. The study employed a qualitative approach using a descriptive method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. The research was conducted in three state elementary schools (SDN) in Salang Subdistrict: SDN 2 Salang (accredited C), SDN 4 Salang, and SDN 8 Salang (accredited B), with 12 participants, including three principals and nine teachers, selected through purposive sampling. The findings indicate that: (1) in terms of roles, principals function as motivators, directors, and mentors by adjusting their leadership styles to teachers’ levels of readiness; (2) in terms of strategies, principals applied four main leadership styles (telling, selling, participating, and delegating) while strengthening academic supervision, teacher empowerment, and two-way communication; and (3) in terms of challenges, principals faced limitations related to facilities, teacher motivation, and geographic constraints, which were addressed through persuasive approaches, collaboration, and moral support. In conclusion, principals’ situational leadership plays a vital role in improving teacher performance and enhancing the quality of elementary education in archipelagic regions. Keywords: Principal, situational leadership, teacher performance, elementary school