A school, like any complex human organization, needs leadership, direction, someone at the helm who takes the risk of making the final decisions. In the case of educational institutions, this doesn't mean going against the teamwork of the teaching staff. It's not that at all. A principal is someone who takes responsibility for representing the entire educational community: teachers, students, families, administrations, the surrounding community... Someone who, if they do it well, promotes internal and external dialogue, strives to retain talent and strengthen the team, looks after the working conditions of colleagues, seeks to strengthen the school's identity, and ensures consistency. Leading with intelligence, empathy, and credibility is as complicated as it is necessary. Not everyone is willing to do it, nor is it easy. Training is also necessary for leadership. And rewards. And the tools to do it.

Educational leadership is one of the most influential factors in improving learning outcomes. This idea, validated by international research, is also supported by UNESCO's latest GEM 2024/5 education report, presented this Thursday in Barcelona. However, the study Leadership in education It also makes a clear warning: in many countries, this impact cannot be realized. According to the document, the reason for this low impact of educational leadership is that school principals do not have "the training, autonomy, support, or the necessary conditions to exercise effective leadership" and, thus, improve education.