Leadership and internal policy in sustainable schools: Exploring the perceptions of primary education executives in Greece

A principal’s vision for their school is the cornerstone of any development strategy and educational transformation. This is not simply a general statement of aspirations but a clearly defined and inspiring “picture” of the school’s future, based on an accurate understanding of its current situation, potential and needs. A principal with vision systematically utilizes available human and material resources, motivates staff, students, parents, and local stakeholders and creates the conditions for active participation and collaboration toward common goals, incorporating core values such as equality, sustainability, and democracy into a framework for shaping a school that promotes learning, innovation, and social responsibility. The present study scrutinizes issues related to the management of a sustainable school and, in particular, outlines the “expected” characteristics of a sustainable school principal, as well as the pillars of internal policy formation, as reflected in the discourse of primary education executives in Greece.