This study aimed to describe nyantri (Islamic crash course) program as a leadership strategy adopted by school principals in strengthening the school organizational culture. This study used a qualitative approach via theoretical phenomenology orientation and a multicase design. The data collection was done through observation, documentation, and in-depth interviews. The validity of the data was measured by data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The results of this study found three models of Islamic crash course performed: tashih, that is, Al-Qur’an reading competence, taushiyah (Islamic lecture) of leadership values, and apprenticeship for the application of a santri’s (Islamic crash course student) character values. The benefits for the teachers are the preservation of their Al-Qur’an reading competence and the improved intensity of the leadership and application of Islamic values, which form the school organizational culture. An integration of values rooted from the three models into the institutional vision could strengthen the school organizational culture to improve school achievement.

The latest "˜freedom to learn' policy, issued by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, must be implemented by educational institutions at various levels. The principals played significant roles such as community empowerment to utilize all resources in the schools to support the policy. The research aimed to describe the principals' efforts in improving community participation in the school and to describe the social involvement in facilitating the freedom to learn at schools. This study employed a qualitative approach with a multi-case research design, and it was conducted in Indonesia, particularly in Tana Tidung Regency in North Kalimantan, Bondowoso Regency in East Java, and Malang City in East Java. The data collection techniques included in-depth interviews and document studies, and to validate the data used a credibility technique. The data validation through the credibility technique was carried out by conducting triangulation, checking members, and improving the persistence and adequacy of reference materials. The cross-case data analysis in this study applied a constant comparative method. The analysis was conducted in all three cases resulted in the provisional findings, continued by data comparison that would later be found by the three cases. The results of this research were the principals' efforts in enhancing community participation through cooperation with several related parties. The principals were regarded as role models in supporting the "˜freedom to learn' policy and building cooperation with related partners. The kind of community participation varied based on the uniqueness of each region.

This study aimed at finding an effective leadership strategy carried out by one-roof school principals in remote areas. This study was conducted qualitatively with a multi-site approach. The data were obtained from the school principals as key informants and focus group discussion (FGD) involving all school principals, Indonesian Institute of Education Innovation Training and Consultant (LPKIPI), education staff, school supervisors, and stakeholders as the participants and resource persons. Findings suggested that (a) the problems encountered by one-roof school principals in the remote areas were significantly related to culture, economy, demography, geography, and historical aspects, (b) the characteristics of success of school principals in remote areas include a clear vision, high-spirit performance, andhab asor (low profile), active involvement in various social activities, strong motivation for continuous learning, open to feedback, having commitment to cooperate with various parties, having a high awareness that school is an educational system and the essential part from the social system in general, persistent, high confidence that they are not alone in carrying out school policies, creative, able to see the context in various perspectives, patient, polite, warm, and smart or attractive, (c) “Gethok Tular¹” is the most effective leadership strategy to strengthen the role of multi-stakeholder forum (MSF), and (d) the involvement of MSF members needs to be done selectively and effectively through the identification of TKU, intensive communication with TKU, identification of other figures, discussions, and sharing roles and strengthening MSF on an ongoing basis.

The policy of developing remote area schools’ quality in Indonesia is getting stronger. The government has set minimum service standards as a reference for schools’ development quality while remaining based on local, national, global, and 21st-century values. This study revealed efforts to improve the 21st-century school’s quality through the contribution of superior leadership, school climate, total quality management implementation, and the school principal’s performance approached quantitatively and analyzed descriptively using Structural Equation Modeling. Participants involved in the study were 147 remote area principals and teachers in two provinces in Indonesia. Results show that (1) school climate had the most dominant contribution to school quality and (2) there was a significant simultaneous effect among superior leadership, school climate, total quality management implementation, and the school principal’s performance on the school quality. Implications of the study’s findings from a theoretical and practical lens as well as recommendations for future studies are also discussed.