School Transformation Through Learning-Driven Principal Leadership: A Case Study in SD Negeri 1 Karangmulyo Kendal Regency
Abstract
School transformation has become a strategic priority for improving educational quality; however, limited research has examined how transformation unfolds within Indonesian elementary schools led by Guru Penggerak principals. This study explored the process of school transformation at SD Negeri 1 Karangmulyo, Kendal Regency, using the Awareness–Exploration–Implementation–Sustainability (AEIS) framework as an analytical lens to examine how organisational change was experienced and interpreted by school stakeholders. A qualitative single-case study design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the principal, teachers, school committee members, parents, and students, complemented by observations and analysis of school documents. Interview interpretations were verified through member checking with participants, while triangulation across interviews, observations, and documentary evidence was used to strengthen the credibility and confirmability of the findings. Data were analysed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings indicate that participants described school transformation as an interconnected process in which shared awareness, collaborative exploration, implementation of agreed practices, and the institutionalisation of routine reflection supported organisational learning. Across all four stages, collaborative reflection and evidence-informed decision-making consistently connected planning, implementation, and evaluation. Rather than confirming the AEIS framework as originally conceptualised, the findings suggest that these collaborative mechanisms refine understanding of how transformation develops within the context of an Indonesian elementary school. The study proposes that collaborative reflection and evidence-informed leadership may support organisational learning in comparable school contexts, while recognising that the transferability of these propositions requires further investigation through longitudinal and multi-case research.
References
Amalia, V. R., & Asbari, M. (2023). Merdeka belajar: Solusi awal transformasi pendidikan Indonesia? Journal of Information Systems and Management (JISMA), 2(5), 62–67. https://doi.org/10.4444/jisma.v2i5.630
Ambawani, C. S. L., Saputra, I., Kusuma, T. M. M., Sumardjoko, B., & Fathoni, A. (2024). Implementasi kepemimpinan transformasional kepala sekolah penggerak di TK. Journal of Education Research, 5(4), 4810–4823. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v5i4.1578
Anam, M. K., Khobir, A., Aqil, M. N., Atikah, J. N., & Al Hikam, M. N. (2025). Transformasi pendidikan di era globalisasi: Menuju sistem yang humanis dan berdaya saing. Jurnal Penelitian Ilmiah Multidisipliner, 2(4), 1550–1557. https://ojs.ruangpublikasi.com/index.php/jpim/article/view/1477
Ash-Shiddiqi, H., Sinaga, R. W., & Audina, N. C. (2025). Kajian teoritis: Analisis data kualitatif. Edukatif, 3(2), 333–343. https://doi.org/10.65311/je.v3i2.1628
Asyikin, N., Rafeliai, W., & Ervina. (2025). Transformasi pendidikan di era digital: Tinjauan literatur terhadap peran teknologi dalam pembelajaran. Jurnal Multidisiplin Inovatif, 9(6), 169–179. https://sejurnal.com/pub/index.php/jmi/article/view/4060
Atstsaury, S., Hadiyanto, H., & Supian, S. (2023). Principal’s strategy to improve teachers professional competence. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v5i1.775
Aviyanto, M. B., Zumrotun, E., & Muhaimin, M. (2024). Analisis hambatan guru dalam mengikuti program Guru Penggerak: Studi kasus di Sekolah Dasar Negeri 1 Sukosono. Eduka: Jurnal Pendidikan, Hukum, dan Bisnis, 9(2), 120–134. https://openjournal.unpam.ac.id/index.php/Eduka/article/view/42217
Awangku Amin, D. R., & Mohd Hamzah, M. I. (2021). Tahap amalan kepimpinan instruksional guru besar dan hubungannya dengan tahap komitmen guru. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 6(2), 135–151. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i2.648
Damayanti, D., & Asbari, M. (2023). Guru Penggerak: Pengembangan pendidikan melalui kepemimpinan guru. Journal of Information Systems and Management (JISMA), 3(2), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.4444/jisma.v3i2.895
Dewi, Z. R., & Sunarni, S. (2024). Peran literasi digital dalam implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka: Adaptasi dan transformasi di era digital. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen dan Pendidikan, 4(1), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.30872/jimpian.v4i1.2916
Dian, D., Faturrahman, R. H., & Mulyawati, R. (2022). School-based quality improvement management system. Jurnal Obsesi: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 6(3), 2370–2380. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v6i3.1953
Elder, H., Lang, S. G., Villanueva, M., John, B., Roosevelt, K., Altice, F. L., Brady, K. A., Gibson, B., Buchelli, M., DeMaria, A., & Randall, L. M. (2023). Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework to assess the Cooperative Re-Engagement Controlled Trial (CoRECT). Frontiers in Public Health, 11, Article 1223149. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1223149
Eni, E. (2023). Guru Penggerak sebagai harapan baru lahirnya calon kepala sekolah inovatif. ARMADA: Jurnal Penelitian Multidisiplin, 1(6), 469–474. https://doi.org/10.55681/armada.v1i6.586
Fajri, N. D., Al Idrus, A., Sumardi, L., Mustari, M., & Fahruddin. (2025). Kinerja kepala sekolah berlatar belakang Guru Penggerak sebagai pemimpin pembelajaran: Studi pada satuan pendidikan sekolah dasar di Kabupaten Lombok Timur. JPAP (Jurnal Praktisi Administrasi Pendidikan), 9(2), 138–144. https://doi.org/10.29303/jpap.v9i2.1100
Faridah. (2023). Peran komite sekolah di era Merdeka Belajar. Jurnal Bintang Pendidikan Indonesia, 1(1), 66–75. https://doi.org/10.55606/jbpi.v1i1.936
Galdames-Calderón, M. (2023). Distributed leadership: School principals’ practices to promote teachers’ professional development for school improvement. Education Sciences, 13(7), Article 715. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070715
Hardani, Auliya, N. H., Andriani, H., Fardani, R. A., Ustiawaty, J., Utami, E. F., Sukmana, D. J., & Istiqomah, R. R. (2020). Metode penelitian kualitatif & kuantitatif. Pustaka Ilmu.
Harjaya, S., & Idawati, L. (2022). Professional Learning Community (PLC) sebagai strategi kepemimpinan dalam membentuk budaya kolaborasi sekolah di TK Eksperimental Mangunan Yogyakarta. JIIP - Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 5(8), 3179–3193. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v5i8.821
Harsoyo, R. (2022). Teori kepemimpinan transformasional Bernard M. Bass dan aplikasinya dalam peningkatan mutu lembaga pendidikan Islam. Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education Management, 3(2), 247–262. https://doi.org/10.21154/sajiem.v3i2.112
Hasnida, S. S., Adrian, R., & Siagian, N. A. (2023). Tranformasi pendidikan di era digital. Jurnal Bintang Pendidikan Indonesia, 2(1), 110–116. https://doi.org/10.55606/jubpi.v2i1.2488
Ilhami, M. W., Nurfajriani, W. V., Mahendra, A., Sirodj, R. A., & Afgani, W. (2024). Penerapan metode studi kasus dalam penelitian kualitatif. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 10(9), 462–469. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11180129
Istikomah, Romadlon, D. A., & Kurniawan, A. B. H. (2022). Implementasi sistem penjaminan mutu internal di sekolah dasar. Procedia of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3, 678–685. https://doi.org/10.21070/pssh.v3i.200
Kareem, J., Patrick, H. A., Prabakaran, N., Valarmathi, B., Tantia, V., Pramod Kumar, M. P. M., & Mukherjee, U. (2023). Transformational educational leaders inspire school educators’ commitment. Frontiers in Education, 8, Article 1171513. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1171513
Kenmandola, D. (2022). Kualitas pendidikan di Indonesia. Open Science Framework. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/vwbeu
Kwan, P. (2020). Is transformational leadership theory passé? Revisiting the integrative effect of instructional leadership and transformational leadership on student outcomes. Educational Administration Quarterly, 56(2), 321–349. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X19861137
Mastuti, A. G., Abdillah, A., & Rumodar, M. (2022). Peningkatan kualitas pembelajaran guru melalui workshop dan pendampingan pembelajaran berdiferensiasi. JMM (Jurnal Masyarakat Mandiri), 6(5), 3415–3425. https://doi.org/10.31764/jmm.v6i5.9682
Meyer, A., Hartung-Beck, V., Gronostaj, A., Krüger, S., & Richter, D. (2023). How can principal leadership practices promote teacher collaboration and organizational change? A longitudinal multiple case study of three school improvement initiatives. Journal of Educational Change, 24(3), 425–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-022-09451-9
Moullin, J. C., Dickson, K. S., Stadnick, N. A., Rabin, B., & Aarons, G. A. (2019). Systematic review of the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework. Implementation Science, 14(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-018-0842-6
Mulyono, P., Kusumaningsih, W., & Soedjono, S. (2024). Pengaruh kepemimpinan kepala sekolah, budaya organisasi, dan penguasaan teknologi informasi terhadap kompetensi profesional guru SD di Kecamatan Bogorejo Kabupaten Blora. Jurnal Inovasi Pembelajaran di Sekolah, 5(1), 109–117. https://doi.org/10.51874/jips.v5i1.231
Mustaking, & Arifuddin. (2023). Pengaruh kepemimpinan visioner terhadap budaya organisasi dan komitmen serta implikasinya pada kinerja aparatur sipil negara. AkMen Jurnal Ilmiah, 20(1), 104–115. https://doi.org/10.37476/akmen.v20i1.3844
Mustofa, A., Mauna, B., & Patoni, A. (2024). Dimensi kepemimpinan transformasional di lembaga pendidikan Islam. Jurnal Administrasi Pendidikan Islam, 6(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.15642/JAPI.2024.6.1.25-34
Nurdin, D., Marnita, M., & Ghani, M. F. B. A. (2023). Digital transformation to improve teachers’ learning management and students’ science life skills. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 12(3), 329–342. https://doi.org/10.15294/jpii.v12i3.44253
Putri, S. A. A. K., Roesminingsih, E., Khamidi, A., & Nursalim, M. (2024). Perilaku organisasi dan peran hubungan masyarakat dalam pemasaran sekolah. Edu Cendikia: Jurnal Ilmiah Kependidikan, 4(3), 1192–1205. https://doi.org/10.47709/educendikia.v4i03.5075
Putri, S. M., Salsabila, N. F., Firdaus, M. A., & Kusumaningrum, H. (2024). Membangun budaya organisasi positif: Manajemen lingkungan internal sekolah. Harmoni Pendidikan: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 2(1), 49–62. https://doi.org/10.62383/hardik.v2i1.948
Rofiah, S., Sari, Y. I., & Kusufa, R. A. B. (2024). Studi gaya kepemimpinan transformasional kepala SMA dalam penerapan sekolah Adiwiyata di Kabupaten Malang. Dinamika Sosial: Jurnal Pendidikan Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial, 3(4), 332–346. https://doi.org/10.18860/dsjpips.v3i4.13309
Rosmini, H., Ningsih, N., Murni, M., & Adiyono, A. (2024). Transformasi kepemimpinan kepala sekolah pada era digital: Strategi administrasi pendidikan berbasis teknologi di sekolah menengah pertama. Konstruktivisme: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 16(1), 165–180. https://doi.org/10.35457/konstruk.v16i1.3451
Satriawan, W., Santika, I. D., & Naim, A. (2021). Guru Penggerak dan transformasi sekolah dalam kerangka inkuiri apresiatif. Al-Idarah: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 11(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.24042/alidarah.v11i1.7633
Siregar, W. M., Prawijaya, S., Setiawan, F., & Putri, S. R. (2023). Peran Guru Penggerak sebagai agen perubahan pendidikan. JGK (Jurnal Guru Kita), 8(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.24114/jgk.v8i1.51136
Suherman, & Prasilowati, S. L. (2024). Pengaruh gaya kepemimpinan partisipatif dan disiplin kerja terhadap kinerja guru dengan budaya organisasi sebagai variabel moderating. Jurnal Pajak dan Bisnis, 5(2), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.55336/jpb.v5i2.195
Supiyanti, F., Arsita, M., Hilaby, A. K., Supriyadi, S., & Izzatika, A. (2024). Manajemen pendidikan untuk meningkatkan kualitas kinerja guru. JGK (Jurnal Guru Kita), 9(1), 125–135. https://doi.org/10.24114/jgk.v9i1.64254
Swandewi, N. P. P., Ariawan, I. P. W., & Sulindawati, N. L. G. E. (2024). Pengaruh kepemimpinan instruksional, literasi digital, kecerdasan emosional, kecerdasan intelektual terhadap kinerja guru. Jurnal Sosial Teknologi, 4(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.59188/jurnalsostech.v4i1.1094
Yoserizal, Darmayanti, R., Septrisia, R., Rusdinal, Hadiyanto, & Rifma. (2024). The impact of transformational leadership on educational environments: A systematic review. Mimbar Ilmu, 29(3), 401–410. https://doi.org/10.23887/mi.v29i3.90157
Yunanda, F. R., Hasibuan, W. A., Putri, P. H., & Syahfitri. (2025). Peran budaya organisasi dalam membangun kolaborasi dan inovasi ditempat kerja. Jurnal Ilmiah dan Karya Mahasiswa, 3(1), 58–70. https://doi.org/10.54066/jikma.v3i1.2929
Zhai, Y., Salmador-Sánchez, M. P., & García-Morales, V. J. (2026). The positive impact of transformational leadership on digital transformation and innovation in agri-food SMEs. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 16, Article 101009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2026.101009
Copyright (c) 2026 Zayyinul Firdaus, Nurkolis, Ngasbun Egar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with JPI: Jurnal Pustaka Indonesia journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the JPI: Jurnal Pustaka Indonesia journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or edit it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
1.png)
_(3).png){kind=small}
